title: Toxoplasma gondiiElongation Factor 1-Alpha (TgEF-1α) Is a Novel Vaccine Candidate Antigen against Toxoplasmosis.
abstract: Toxoplasma gondii(T. gondii) is an obligate intracellular parasite which can infect almost all warm-blood animals, leading to toxoplasmosis. Screening and discovery of an effective vaccine candidate or new drug target is crucial for the control of this disease. In this study, the recombinantT. gondiielongation factor 1-alpha (rTgEF-1α) was successfully expressed in inEscherichia coli.Passive immunization of mice with anti-rTgEF-1α polyclonal antibody following challenge with a lethal dose of tachyzoites significantly increased the survival time compared with PBS control group. The survival time of mice challenged with tachyzoites pretreated with anti-rTgEF-1α PcAb also was significantly increased. Invasion of tachyzoites into mouse macrophages was significantly inhibited in the anti-rTgEF-1α PcAb pretreated group. Mice vaccinated with rTgEF-1α induced a high level of specific anti-T. gondiiantibodies and production of IFN-gamma, interleukin-4. The expression levels of MHC-I and MHC-II molecules as well as the percentages of CD4+and CD8+T cells in mice vaccinated with rTgEF-1α was significantly increased, respectively (P< 0.05), compared with all the controls. Immunization with rTgEF-1α significantly (P< 0.05) prolonged survival time (14.53 ± 1.72 days) after challenge infection with the virulentT. gondiiRH strain. These results indicate thatT. gondiiEF-1α plays an essential role in mediating host cell invasion by the parasite and, as such, could be a candidate vaccine antigen againsttoxoplasmosis.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjing, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiang, China.
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjing, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical UniversityXinxiang, China.
authors.forename: Zhenchao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Yujian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Javaid A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gadahi
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Lixin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Ruofeng
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Xiaokai
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Xiangrui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
keywords: Toxoplasma gondii; elongation factor 1-alpha; host cell invasion; protective immunity; vaccine