title: CpG oligodeoxynucleotide ligand potentiates the activity of the pVAX1-Sj26GST.
abstract: Schistosomiasis is considered one of the most important neglected tropical diseases and remains a major public health problem in endemic countries. Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands have been investigated as potential vaccine adjuvants for tumor and virus immunotherapy. However, few TLR ligands affecting schistosoma vaccines have been characterized. In this study, we evaluated a TLR9 ligand (CpG oligodeoxynucleotide 1826, CpG) as an adjuvant for a partially protective DNA vaccine encoding a 26-kDa glutathione S-transferase ofSchistosoma japonicum(pVAX1-Sj26GST). Vaccination with pVAX1-Sj26GST in combination with CpG inhibited Treg immunosuppressive function, upregulated the production of interferon (IFN)-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, IL-2 and IL-6, and decreased CD4+CD8+Foxp3+expressionin vitro, which may contribute to the escape from Treg-mediated suppression during vaccination, allowing expansion of antigen-specific T cells against pathogens. In conclusion, our data demonstrated that selective TLR ligand combination may increase protective efficacy against schistosomiasis, which may synergistically antagonize Treg-mediated suppression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Mining Engineering, Huainan Vocational and Technical College, Huainan, Anhui 232001, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Anhui University of Science and Technology, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathogen Biology, Bengbu Medical College, Wuhu, Anhui 241002, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Chao-Pin
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Li
keywords: CpG oligodeoxynucleotide ligand; pVAX1-Sj26GST; vaccine