title: Plant expressed coccidial antigens as potential vaccine candidates in protecting chicken against coccidiosis.
abstract: Coccidiosis is a disease caused by intracellular parasites belonging to the genus Eimeria. In the present study, we transiently expressed two coccidial antigens EtMIC1 and EtMIC2 as poly histidine-tagged fusion proteins in tobacco. We have evaluated the protective efficacy of plant expressed EtMIC1 as monovalent and as well as bi-valent formulation where EtMIC1 and EtMIC2 were used in combination. The protective efficacy of these formulations was evaluated using homologous challenge in chickens. We observed better serum antibody response, weight gain and reduced oocyst shedding in birds immunized with EtMIC1 and EtMIC2 as bivalent formulation compared to monovalent formulation. However, IFN-γ response was not significant in birds immunized with EtMIC1 compared to the birds immunized with EtMIC2. Our results indicate the potential use of these antigens as vaccine candidates.
authors.affiliation: Research & Development Centre, Indian Immunologicals Limited, Rakshapuram, Gachibowli, Hyderabad 500032, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Kota
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sathish
authors.forename: Rajan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sriraman
authors.forename: B Mohana
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Subramanian
authors.forename: N Hanumantha
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Balaji
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kasa
authors.forename: Jagan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Donikeni
authors.forename: M Lakshmi
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Narasu
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D002645:Chickens / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D004539:Eimeria / Q000276:immunology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D033661:Oocysts; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000378:metabolism; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D014026:Nicotiana / Q000378:metabolism*; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines; D007371:Interferon-gamma