title: Transfection of Eimeria mitis with yellow fluorescent protein as reporter and the endogenous development of the transgenic parasite.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Advancements have been made in the genetic manipulation of apicomplexan parasites. Both the in vitro transient and in vivo stable transfection of Eimeria tenella have been developed successfully. Herein, we report the transient and stable transfection of Eimeria mitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sporozoites of E. mitis transfected with enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) expression plasmid were inoculated into chickens via the cloacal route. The recovered fluorescent oocysts were sorted by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) and then passaged 6 generations successively in chickens. The resulting population was analyzed by genome walking and Western blot. The endogenous development of the transgenic E. mitis was observed and its reproduction potential was tested. The stable transfection of E. mitis was developed. Genome walking confirmed the random integration of plasmid DNA into the genome; while Western blot analysis demonstrated the expression of foreign proteins. Constitutive expression of EYFP was observed in all stages of merogony, gametogony and sporogony. The peak of the transgenic oocyst output was delayed by 24 h and the total oocyst reproduction was reduced by 7-fold when compared to the parental strain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stable transfection of E. mitis was successfully developed. The expression of foreign antigens in the transgenic parasites will facilitate the development of transgenic E. mitis as a vaccine vector.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China; National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China; National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors.forename: Xian Yong
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China; National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors.forename: Xin Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China; National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors.forename: Jing Xia
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Suo
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China; National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors.forename: Ge Ru
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China; National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
authors.forename: Xun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Suo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics; D004539:Eimeria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics*; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / Q000235:genetics; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000235:genetics; D053127:Influenza A Virus, H9N2 Subtype / Q000235:genetics; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012098:Reproduction; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C016512:IgY; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; C054562:yellow fluorescent protein, Bacteria