Optimized codon usage enhances the expression and immunogenicity of DNA vaccine encoding Taenia solium oncosphere TSOL18 gene.
Cysticercosis due to larval cysts of Taenia solium, is a serious public health problem affecting humans in numerous regions worldwide. The oncospheral stage-specific TSOL18 antigen is a promising candidate for an anti-cysticercosis vaccine. It has been reported that the immunogenicity of the DNA vaccine may be enhanced through codon optimization of candidate genes. The aim of the present study was to further increase the efficacy of the cysticercosis DNA vaccine; therefore, a codon optimized recombinant expression plasmid pVAX1/TSOL18 was developed in order to enhance expression and immunogenicity of TSOL18. The gene encoding TSOL18 of Taenia solium was optimized, and the resulting opt-TSOL18 gene was amplified and expressed. The results of the present study showed that the codon-optimized TSOL18 gene was successfully expressed in CHO-K1 cells, and immunized mice vaccinated with opt-TSOL18 recombinant expression plasmids demonstrated opt‑TSOL18 expression in muscle fibers, as determined by immunohistochemistry. In addition, the codon-optimized TSOL18 gene produced a significantly greater effect compared with that of TSOL18 and active spleen cells were markedly stimulated in vaccinated mice. 3H-thymidine incorporation was significantly greater in the opt-TSOL18 group compared with that of the TSOL18, pVAX and blank control groups (P<0.01). In conclusion, the eukaryotic expression vector containing the codon-optimized TSOL18 gene was successfully constructed and was confirmed to be expressed in vivo and in vitro. The expression and immunogenicity of the codon-optimized TSOL18 gene were markedly greater compared with that of the un-optimized gene. Therefore, these results may provide the basis for an optimized TSOL18 gene vaccine against cysticercosis.
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui 233030, P.R. China.
Yuan-Yuan
YY
Wang
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui 233030, P.R. China.
Xue-Lian
XL
Chang
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui 233030, P.R. China.
Zhi-Yong
ZY
Tao
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui 233030, P.R. China.
Xiao-Li
XL
Wang
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui 233030, P.R. China.
Yu-Meng
YM
Jiao
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui 233030, P.R. China.
Yong
Y
Chen
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui 233030, P.R. China.
Wen-Juan
WJ
Qi
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui 233030, P.R. China.
Hui
H
Xia
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui 233030, P.R. China.
Xiao-Di
XD
Yang
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui 233030, P.R. China.
Xin
X
Sun
Department of Pathobiology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, P.R. China.
Ji-Long
JL
Shen
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui 233030, P.R. China.
Qiang
Q
Fang
D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D001692:Biological Transport; D016466:CHO Cells; D003062:Codon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D003412:Cricetulus; D003551:Cysticercosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000276:immunology; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D007114:Immunization; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000276:immunology; D010957:Plasmids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D041201:Taenia solium / Q000276:immunology*; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D014612:Vaccines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D003062:Codon; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C113407:TSOL-18 antigen; D014612:Vaccines; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D013936:Thymidine