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Yin LT, Ren YJ, You YJ, Yang Y, Wang ZX, Wang HL. Intranasal immunisation with recombinant Toxoplasma gondii uridine phosphorylase confers resistance against acute toxoplasmosis in mice. Parasite 2023; 30:46. [PMID: 37921620 PMCID: PMC10624161 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2023047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is caused by Toxoplasma gondii, which infects all warm-blooded animals, including humans. Currently, control measures for T. gondii infection are insufficient due to the lack of effective medications or vaccines. In this paper, recombinant T. gondii uridine phosphorylase (rTgUPase) was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified via Ni2+-NTA agarose. rTgUPase was inoculated intranasally into BALB/c mice, and the induced immune responses were evaluated by mucosal and humoral antibody and cytokine assays and lymphoproliferative measurements. Moreover, the protective effect against the T. gondii RH strain infection was assessed by calculating the burdens of tachyzoites in the liver and brain and by recording the survival rate and time. Our results revealed that mice immunised with 30 μg rTgUPase produced significantly higher levels of secretory IgA (sIgA) in nasal, intestinal, vaginal and vesical washes and synthesised higher levels of total IgG, IgG1 and, in particular, IgG2a in their blood sera. rTgUPase immunisation increased the production of IFN-gamma, interleukin IL-2 and IL-4, but not IL-10 from isolated mouse spleen cells and enhanced splenocyte proliferation in vitro. rTgUPase-inoculated mice were effectively protected against infection with the T. gondii RH strain, showing considerable reduction of tachyzoite burdens in liver and brain tissues after 30 days of infection, and a 44.29% increase in survival rate during an acute challenge. The above findings show that intranasal inoculation with rTgUPase provoked mucosal, humoral and cellular immune responses and indicate that rTgUPase might serve as a promising vaccine candidate for protecting against toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Tian Yin
- Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology, Ministry of Education, Department of Physiology, Shanxi Medical University Taiyuan 030001 Shanxi China
| | - Ying-Jie Ren
- School of Basic Medicine, Basic Medical Sciences Center, Shanxi Medical University Jinzhong Shanxi 030600 China
| | - Yu-Jie You
- School of Basic Medicine, Basic Medical Sciences Center, Shanxi Medical University Jinzhong Shanxi 030600 China
| | - Yong Yang
- School of Basic Medicine, Basic Medical Sciences Center, Shanxi Medical University Jinzhong Shanxi 030600 China
| | - Zhi-Xin Wang
- School of Basic Medicine, Basic Medical Sciences Center, Shanxi Medical University Jinzhong Shanxi 030600 China
| | - Hai-Long Wang
- School of Basic Medicine, Basic Medical Sciences Center, Shanxi Medical University Jinzhong Shanxi 030600 China
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Chu KB, Quan FS. Recent progress in vaccine development targeting pre-clinical human toxoplasmosis. PARASITES, HOSTS AND DISEASES 2023; 61:231-239. [PMID: 37648228 PMCID: PMC10471472 DOI: 10.3347/phd.22097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasitic organism affecting all warm-blooded vertebrates. Due to the unavailability of commercialized human T. gondii vaccine, many studies have been reported investigating the protective efficacy of pre-clinical T. gondii vaccines expressing diverse antigens. Careful antigen selection and implementing multifarious immunization strategies could enhance protection against toxoplasmosis in animal models. Although none of the available vaccines could remove the tissue-dwelling parasites from the host organism, findings from these pre-clinical toxoplasmosis vaccine studies highlighted their developmental potential and provided insights into rational vaccine design. We herein explored the progress of T. gondii vaccine development using DNA, protein subunit, and virus-like particle vaccine platforms. Specifically, we summarized the findings from the pre-clinical toxoplasmosis vaccine studies involving T. gondii challenge infection in mice published in the past 5 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ki-Back Chu
- Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, Core Research Institute, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447,
Korea
| | - Fu-Shi Quan
- Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, Core Research Institute, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447,
Korea
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447,
Korea
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Kim MJ, Chu KB, Kang HJ, Yoon KW, Eom GD, Mao J, Lee SH, Subbiah J, Kang SM, Moon EK, Quan FS. Protective Immunity Induced by Immunization with Baculovirus, Virus-like Particle, and Vaccinia Virus Expressing the AMA1 of Plasmodium berghei. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10092289. [PMID: 36140395 PMCID: PMC9496152 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10092289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterologous prime–boost immunization regimens using various vaccine platforms demonstrated promising results against infectious diseases. Here, mice were sequentially immunized with the recombinant baculovirus (rBV), virus-like particle (VLP), and recombinant vaccinia virus (rVV) vaccines expressing the Plasmodium berghei apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) for protective efficacy evaluation. The rBV_V_rVV heterologous immunization regimen elicited high levels of parasite-specific IgG, IgG2a, and IgG2b antibody responses in sera. Upon P. berghei challenge infection, proliferations of germinal center B cells in the inguinal lymph nodes, as well as blood CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were induced. More importantly, rBV_V_rVV immunization significantly diminished the parasitemia and prevented drastic bodyweight loss in mice post-challenge infection with P. berghei. Our findings revealed that immunization with rBV, VLP, and rVV expressing the AMA1 conferred protection against P. berghei infection, providing evidence for the potential implementation of this strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Ju Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Ki-Back Chu
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
- Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Hae-Ji Kang
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Keon-Woong Yoon
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Gi-Deok Eom
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Jie Mao
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Su-Hwa Lee
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Jeeva Subbiah
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity, and Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Sang-Moo Kang
- Center for Inflammation, Immunity, and Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Eun-Kyung Moon
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Fu-Shi Quan
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
- Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
- Correspondence:
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Multiple Neuraminidase Containing Influenza Virus-Like Particle Vaccines Protect Mice from Avian and Human Influenza Virus Infection. Viruses 2022; 14:v14020429. [PMID: 35216022 PMCID: PMC8875606 DOI: 10.3390/v14020429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Avian influenza virus remains a threat for humans, and vaccines preventing both avian and human influenza virus infections are needed. Since virus-like particles (VLPs) expressing single neuraminidase (NA) subtype elicited limited heterosubtypic protection, VLPs expressing multiple NA subtypes would enhance the extent of heterosubtypic immunity. Here, we generated avian influenza VLP vaccines displaying H5 hemagglutinin (HA) antigen with or without avian NA subtypes (N1, N6, N8) in different combinations. BALB/c mice were intramuscularly immunized with the VLPs to evaluate the resulting homologous and heterosubtypic immunity upon challenge infections with the avian and human influenza viruses (A/H5N1, A/H3N2, A/H1N1). VLPs expressing H5 alone conferred homologous protection but not heterosubtypic protection, whereas VLPs co-expressing H5 and NA subtypes elicited both homologous and heterosubtypic protection against human influenza viruses in mice. We observed that VLP induced neuraminidase inhibitory activities (NAI), virus-neutralizing activity, and virus-specific antibody (IgG, IgA) responses were strongly correlated with the number of different NA subtype expressions on the VLPs. VLPs expressing all 3 NA subtypes resulted in the highest protection, indicated by the lowest lung titer, negligible body weight changes, and survival in immunized mice. These results suggest that expressing multiple neuraminidases in avian HA VLPs is a promising approach for developing a universal influenza A vaccine against avian and human influenza virus infections.
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Yoon KW, Chu KB, Kang HJ, Kim MJ, Eom GD, Lee SH, Moon EK, Quan FS. Mucosal Administration of Recombinant Baculovirus Displaying Toxoplasma gondii ROP4 Confers Protection Against T. gondii Challenge Infection in Mice. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:735191. [PMID: 34660343 PMCID: PMC8512701 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.735191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pathogens require physical contact with the mucosal surface of the host organism to initiate infection and as such, vaccines eliciting both mucosal and systemic immune responses would be promising. Studies involving the use of recombinant baculoviruses (rBVs) as mucosal vaccines are severely lacking despite their inherently safe nature, especially against pathogens of global importance such as Toxoplasma gondii. Here, we generated rBVs displaying T. gondii rhoptry protein 4 (ROP4) and evaluated their protective efficacy in BALB/c mice following immunization via intranasal (IN) and oral routes. IN immunization with the ROP4-expressing rBVs elicited higher levels of parasite-specific IgA antibody responses compared to oral immunization. Upon challenge infection with a lethal dose of T. gondii ME49, IN immunization elicited significantly higher parasite-specific antibody responses in the mucosal tissues such as intestines, feces, vaginal samples, and brain than oral immunization. Marked increases in IgG and IgA antibody-secreting cell (ASC) responses were observed from intranasally immunized mice. IN immunization elicited significantly enhanced induction of CD4+, CD8+ T cells, and germinal center B (GC B) cell responses from secondary lymphoid organs while limiting the production of the inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and IL-6 in the brain, all of which contributed to protecting mice against T. gondii lethal challenge infection. Our findings suggest that IN delivery of ROP4 rBVs induced better mucosal and systemic immunity against the lethal T. gondii challenge infection compared to oral immunization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keon-Woong Yoon
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ki-Back Chu
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hae-Ji Kang
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Min-Ju Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Gi-Deok Eom
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Su-Hwa Lee
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Eun-Kyung Moon
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Fu-Shi Quan
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.,Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
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Passive Immunity and Antibody Response Induced by Toxoplasma gondii VLP Immunization. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9050425. [PMID: 33922808 PMCID: PMC8146287 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9050425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Passive immunity can provide immediate protection against infectious pathogens. To date, only a few studies have investigated the effect of passive immunization against Toxoplasma gondii, and the use of immune sera acquired from VLP-vaccinated mice for passive immunity assessment remains unreported. In this study, immune sera were produced by a single immunization with virus-like particles (VLPs) expressing the inner membrane complex (IMC), rhoptry protein 18 (ROP18), and microneme protein 8 (MIC8) of Toxoplasma gondii, with or without a CpG-ODN adjuvant. The passive immunization of immune sera conferred protection in mice, as indicated by their potent parasite-specific antibody response, lessened brain cyst counts, lower bodyweight loss, and enhanced survival. In order to confirm that the immune sera of the VLP-immunized mice were truly protective, the antibody responses and other immunological parameters were measured in the VLP-immunized mice. We found that VLP immunization induced higher levels of parasite-specific IgG, IgG subclass, and IgM antibody responses in the sera and intestines than in the controls. Enhanced Th1 and Th2-associated cytokines in the spleen, diminished brain cyst counts, and lessened body weight loss were found following T. gondii ME49 challenge infection. These results suggest that passive immunization with the immune sera acquired from VLP-vaccinated mice can confer adequate protection against T. gondii infection.
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Chu KB, Quan FS. Advances in Toxoplasma gondii Vaccines: Current Strategies and Challenges for Vaccine Development. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9050413. [PMID: 33919060 PMCID: PMC8143161 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9050413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, caused by the apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii, is one of the most damaging parasite-borne zoonotic diseases of global importance. While approximately one-third of the entire world’s population is estimated to be infected with T. gondii, an effective vaccine for human use remains unavailable. Global efforts in pursuit of developing a T. gondii vaccine have been ongoing for decades, and novel innovative approaches have been introduced to aid this process. A wide array of vaccination strategies have been conducted to date including, but not limited to, nucleic acids, protein subunits, attenuated vaccines, and nanoparticles, which have been assessed in rodents with promising results. Yet, translation of these in vivo results into clinical studies remains a major obstacle that needs to be overcome. In this review, we will aim to summarize the current advances in T. gondii vaccine strategies and address the challenges hindering vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ki-Back Chu
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea;
| | - Fu-Shi Quan
- Medical Research Center for Bioreaction to Reactive Oxygen Species and Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
- Department of Medical Zoology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
- Correspondence:
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