title: Immune protection conferred by recombinant MRLC (myosin regulatory light chain) antigen in TiterMax Gold® adjuvant against experimental fasciolosis in rats.
abstract: Protection against experimental fasciolosis in rats immunized with recombinant myosin regulatory light chain (MRLC) in TiterMax Gold® adjuvant was assessed. The experimental trial consisted of four groups of 15 animals; group 1 was unimmunized and infected, group 2 was immunized with MRLC in adjuvant and infected, group 3 was infected and immunized with adjuvant only and group 4 was unimmunized and uninfected. Immunization with MRLC in TiterMax Gold® adjuvant (group 2) induced a reduction in fluke burdens of 51.0% (p<0.001) when compared with the adjuvant control group, and 61.5% (p<0.001) when compared with the unimmunized infected controls. There was a reduction in fecal egg output in group 2 of 44.8% and 37.3% compared with group 1 and group 3, respectively; although this difference was not statistically significant. Measurement of cytokine levels revealed higher levels of TNF-alpha and IL-2 as well as lower levels of IL-4 in group 2 during the chronic stage of infection (p<0.05), along with higher levels of IFN-gamma during early stages of infection (p<0.05). These results suggest a mixed Th1/Th2 phenotype immune response; however predominance of Th1 cytokines was observed. Levels of anti-MRLC serum IgG in group 2 were significantly higher than controls at the time of euthanasia (p<0.05). This is the first report of immunization with recombinant MRLC in rats, demonstrating that this antigen significantly reduces fluke burdens, increases the Th1 immune response and encourages further studies to improve the vaccine's efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Instituto Federal Catarinense (IFC), Concórdia, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luan C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Henker
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Instituto Federal Catarinense (IFC), Concórdia, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Claiton I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Schwertz
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Instituto Federal Catarinense (IFC), Concórdia, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Neuber J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Lucca
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Instituto Federal Catarinense (IFC), Concórdia, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Manoela M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Piva
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology, Instituto Federal Catarinense (IFC), Concórdia, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Keila C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Prior
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baska
authors.affiliation: Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN), Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Norbury
authors.affiliation: Witold Stefański Institute of Parasitology, Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN), Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Kamil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Januszkiewicz
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology, Instituto Federal Catarinense (IFC), Concórdia, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: Diogenes
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dezen
authors.affiliation: Universidade Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marta M M F
authors.initials: MMMF
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Moresco
authors.affiliation: Centro Universitário FACVEST (UNIFACVEST), Lages, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Liana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bertagnolli da Rosa
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Instituto Federal Catarinense (IFC), Concórdia, SC, Brazil. Electronic address: ricardo.mendes@ifc-concordia.edu.br.
authors.forename: Ricardo E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Mendes
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005211:Fascioliasis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D018994:Myosin Light Chains / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D059208:Parasite Load; D011060:Poloxalene / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D016207:Cytokines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018994:Myosin Light Chains; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; C086752:TiterMax; D011060:Poloxalene
keywords: Fasciola hepatica; MRLC; Vaccine