title: Epitope analysis and protection by a ROP19 DNA vaccine against Toxoplasma gondii.
abstract: We used bioinformatics approaches to identify B-cell and T-cell epitopes on the ROP19 protein of Toxoplasma gondii. Then, we constructed plasmids with ROP19 (pEGFP-C1-ROP19) and injected them into BALB/c mice to test the immunoprotection induced by this vaccine candidate. The results showed that immunization with pEGFP-C1-ROP19 induced effective cellular and humoral immune responses in mice; specifically, high serum levels of T. gondii-specific IgG and increased interferon-gamma production by splenocytes. Furthermore, the mice vaccinated with pROP19 had significantly fewer brain cysts (583 ± 160) than the mice injected with phosphate-buffered saline (1350 ± 243) or with the control plasmid, pEGFP-C1 (1300 ± 167). Compared with PBS-treated mice, those immunized with pROP19 had only 43% of the number of brain cysts. These results suggest that the DNA vaccine encoding ROP19 induced a significant immune response and provided protection against a challenge with T. gondii strain PRU cysts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Shandong University School of Medicine,250012 Jinan, Shandong Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Ji Nan Children's Hospital, 250022 Jinan, Shandong Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Shandong University School of Medicine,250012 Jinan, Shandong Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong University School of Medicine, 250021 Jinan, Shandong Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Aihua
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Shandong University School of Medicine,250012 Jinan, Shandong Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Meiyan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Shandong University School of Medicine,250012 Jinan, Shandong Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Qihang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Shandong University School of Medicine,250012 Jinan, Shandong Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhilin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Shandong University School of Medicine,250012 Jinan, Shandong Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Miradel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arken
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Shandong University School of Medicine,250012 Jinan, Shandong Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Ao
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Shandong University School of Medicine,250012 Jinan, Shandong Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Shenyi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014611:Vaccination; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D016207:Cytokines; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte; D018984:Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D011494:Protein Kinases; C000611670:rhoptry protein 19, Toxoplasma gondii