title: Enhancement of protective immune response to recombinant Toxoplasma gondii ROP18 antigen by ginsenoside Re.
abstract: Toxoplasma gondii, the etiological agent of toxoplasmosis, is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite that infects a variety of mammals including humans. In an attempt to find new antigen-adjuvant combinations that enhance the immunogenicity of antigen candidates for toxoplasma vaccines, we analyzed the potent protection in mice immunized with recombinant protein ROP18 when co-administered with ginsenoside Re, a most important component isolated from Panax ginseng. All immunized mice produced specific anti-rROP18 immunoglobulins, with high levels of IgG antibody and a mixed IgG1/IgG2a response, with predominance of IgG1 production. The cellular and humoral immune responses were associated with the production of IFN-γ and IL-4 cytokines respectively. Vaccinated mice displayed a significantly increased survival time compared with control mice which died within 6 days of challenge with RH strain. Our data demonstrate that by addition of ginsenoside Re, the rROP18 triggered a stronger humoral and cellular response against T. gondii, and that Re is a promising vaccine adjuvant against toxoplasmosis, deserves further evaluation and development.
authors.affiliation: Food Safety Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310035, PR China. Electronic address: daofeng@mail.zjgsu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Daofeng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Jianzhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Aifang
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Du
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D015153:Blotting, Western; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D016207:Cytokines; D036145:Ginsenosides; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; C049864:ginsenoside Re; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C556793:ROP18 protein, Toxoplasma gondii
keywords: Adjuvant; Ginsenoside Re; Toxoplasma gondii; rROP18