title: Immunoglobulin and cytokine changes induced following immunization with a DNA vaccine encoding Toxoplasma gondii selenium-dependent glutathione reductase protein.
abstract: Toxoplasma gondii Glutathione Reductase (TgGR) plays important role during the survival of the parasite. In this investigation, immunological changes and protection efficiency of this protein delivered as a DNA vaccine (pTgGR) have been evaluated. Mice were immunized with pTgGR, followed by challenge with virulent T. gondii RH strain, 2 weeks after the booster immunization. Compared to the control groups pVAX1, PBS and Blank groups, the results showed that pTgGR stimulated specific humoral response defined by significant titers of total IgG, subclasses IgG1 and IgG2a, classes IgA and IgM, but not IgE. Analysis of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-17 and TGF-β1 cytokines after immunization and compared with the control groups showed significant increments in pTgGR group. Additionally, T lymphocytes subpopulation CD4(+) T was positively recruited with significant percentage detected, while subset CD8(+) appeared not to be involved in response to this antigen. Vaccinated mice showed a significantly longer survival time, 15 days, in contrast with control groups which died within 8-10 days after challenge. These results demonstrated that TgGR could induce significant humoral and cell mediated responses leading to a considerable level of resistance against toxoplasmosis infection.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases Diagnosis and Immunology, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China.
authors.forename: Ibrahim A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases Diagnosis and Immunology, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China.
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases Diagnosis and Immunology, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China.
authors.forename: LiXin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases Diagnosis and Immunology, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China.
authors.forename: RuoFeng
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases Diagnosis and Immunology, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China.
authors.forename: XiaoKai
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases Diagnosis and Immunology, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, PR China. Electronic address: lixiangrui@njau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: XiangRui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D010957:Plasmids; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012643:Selenium / Q000378:metabolism; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D005980:Glutathione Reductase; D012643:Selenium
keywords: DNA vaccines; Selenium; TgGR; Toxoplasma gondii