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Guo Q, Yu Y, Suo J, Tang X, Zhang S, Crouch C, Bruton B, Tarpey I, Liu X, Zhao G, Suo X. Oral delivery of Eimeria acervulina transfected sequentially with two copies of the VP2 gene induces immunity against infectious bursal disease virus in chickens. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1367912. [PMID: 38659453 PMCID: PMC11041627 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1367912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Chicken coccidiosis caused by Eimeria spp. can occur on almost all poultry farms, causing huge economic losses to the industry. Genetically manipulated Eimeria parasites as a vaccine vector to deliver viral antigens have been reported. In our preliminary study, transgenic E. acervulina expressing a VP2 gene (Ea-VP2) of the infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) demonstrated partial protection against IBDV infection. To enhance immune responses, we aimed to increase the VP2 gene copy number in transgenic E. acervulina. In this study, we used a novel plasmid vector carrying a VP2 gene fused with three flag tags and a red fluorescent reporter gene (mCherry). The vector was introduced into Ea-VP2 sporozoites through nucleofection, leading to the generation of Ea-2VP2. Subsequent analysis revealed a notable escalation in the fluorescent rate, increasing from 0.11 to 95.1% following four consecutive passages facilitated by fluorescent-activated cell sorting. Verification via PCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence confirmed the successful construction of the Ea-2VP2 population. Despite lower fecundity compared to wild-type E. acervulina, Ea-2VP2 maintained immunogenicity. Our research effectively created a transgenic E. acervulina strain transfected sequentially with two copies of the VP2 gene from IBDV. This modification resulted in an increased humoral immune response after primary immunization in chickens. Additionally, it demonstrated a degree of protection within the bursa against IBDV infection. Future studies will focus on further enhancing immune response levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingbin Guo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, China
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory and College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Yu
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory and College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jingxia Suo
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory and College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinming Tang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biosafety Risk Prevention and Control (North) of MARA, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Sixin Zhang
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory and College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Colin Crouch
- MSD Animal Health, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
| | - Beth Bruton
- MSD Animal Health, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
| | - Ian Tarpey
- MSD Animal Health, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
| | - Xianyong Liu
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory and College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Guanghui Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, China
| | - Xun Suo
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory and College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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Yu Y, Zhang S, Duan C, Crouch C, Suo J, Tang X, Liu X, Liu J, Bruton B, Tarpey I, Suo X. Developing efficient strategies for localizing the enhanced yellow fluorescent protein subcellularly in transgenic Eimeria parasites. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4851. [PMID: 38418588 PMCID: PMC10902363 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55569-6] [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: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Eimeria species serve as promising eukaryotic vaccine vectors. And that the location of heterologous antigens in the subcellular components of genetically modified Eimeria may determine the magnitude and type of immune responses. Therefore, our study aimed to target a heterologous fluorescent protein to the cell surface or microneme, two locations where are more effective in inducing protective immunity, of Eimeria tenella and E. acervulina sporozoites. We used an enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) as a tagging biomarker, fusing variously with some localization or whole sequences of compartmental proteins for targeting. After acquiring stable transgenic Eimeria populations, we observed EYFP expressing in expected locations with certain strategies. That is, EYFP successfully localized to the surface when it was fused between signal peptides and mature products of surface antigen 1 (SAG1). Furthermore, EYFP was efficiently targeted to the apical end, an optimal location for secretory organelle known as the microneme, when fused to the C terminus of microneme protein 2. Unexpectedly, EYFP exhibited dominantly in the apical end with only weak expression on the surface of the transgenic sporozoites when the parasites were transfected with plasmid with EYFP fused between signal peptides and mature products of E. tenella SAG 13. These strategies worked in both E. tenella and E. acervulina, laying a solid foundation for studying E. tenella and E. acervulina-based live vaccines that can be further tailored to the inclusion of cargo immunogens from other pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Yu
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Sixin Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Chunhui Duan
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Colin Crouch
- MSD Animal Health, Walton Manor, Milton Keynes, MK7 7AJ, UK
| | - Jingxia Suo
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xinming Tang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biosafety Risk Prevention and Control (North) of MARA, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xianyong Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jie Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Beth Bruton
- MSD Animal Health, Walton Manor, Milton Keynes, MK7 7AJ, UK
| | - Ian Tarpey
- MSD Animal Health, Walton Manor, Milton Keynes, MK7 7AJ, UK
| | - Xun Suo
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
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Liu Q, Liu X, Zhao X, Zhu XQ, Suo X. Live attenuated anticoccidial vaccines for chickens. Trends Parasitol 2023; 39:1087-1099. [PMID: 37770352 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2023.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Chicken coccidiosis, caused by infection with single or multiple Eimeria species, results in significant economic losses to the global poultry industry. Over the past decades, considerable efforts have been made to generate attenuated Eimeria strains, and the use of live attenuated anticoccidial vaccines for disease prevention has achieved tremendous success. In this review, we evaluate the advantages and limitations of the methods of attenuation as well as attenuated Eimeria strains in a historical perspective. Also, we summarize the recent exciting research advances in transient/stable transfection systems and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based genome editing developed for Eimeria parasites, and discuss trends and challenges of developing live attenuated anticoccidial vaccines based on transgenesis and genome editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Liu
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi Province 030801, PR China
| | - Xianyong Liu
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100093, PR China
| | - Xiaomin Zhao
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong Province 271018, PR China
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi Province 030801, PR China.
| | - Xun Suo
- National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health and Safety, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100093, PR China.
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Madlala T, Adeleke VT, Fatoba AJ, Okpeku M, Adeniyi AA, Adeleke MA. Designing multiepitope-based vaccine against Eimeria from immune mapped protein 1 (IMP-1) antigen using immunoinformatic approach. Sci Rep 2021; 11:18295. [PMID: 34521964 PMCID: PMC8440781 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97880-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance against coccidiosis has posed a significant threat to chicken welfare and productivity worldwide, putting daunting pressure on the poultry industry to reduce the use of chemoprophylactic drugs and live vaccines in poultry to treat intestinal diseases. Chicken coccidiosis, caused by an apicomplexan parasite of Eimeria spp., is a significant challenge worldwide. Due to the experience of economic loss in production and prevention of the disease, development of cost-effective vaccines or drugs that can stimulate defence against multiple Eimeria species is imperative to control coccidiosis. This study explored Eimeria immune mapped protein-1 (IMP-1) to develop a multiepitope-based vaccine against coccidiosis by identifying antigenic T-cell and B-cell epitope candidates through immunoinformatic techniques. This resulted in the design of 7 CD8+, 21 CD4+ T-cell epitopes and 6 B-cell epitopes, connected using AAY, GPGPG and KK linkers to form a vaccine construct. A Cholera Toxin B (CTB) adjuvant was attached to the N-terminal of the multiepitope construct to improve the immunogenicity of the vaccine. The designed vaccine was assessed for immunogenicity (8.59968), allergenicity and physiochemical parameters, which revealed the construct molecular weight of 73.25 kDa, theoretical pI of 8.23 and instability index of 33.40. Molecular docking simulation of vaccine with TLR-5 with binding affinity of - 151.893 kcal/mol revealed good structural interaction and stability of protein structure of vaccine construct. The designed vaccine predicts the induction of immunity and boosted host's immune system through production of antibodies and cytokines, vital in hindering surface entry of parasites into host. This is a very important step in vaccine development though further experimental study is still required to validate these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thabile Madlala
- grid.16463.360000 0001 0723 4123Discipline of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X54001, Westville, Durban, 4000 South Africa
| | - Victoria T. Adeleke
- grid.16463.360000 0001 0723 4123Discipline of Chemical Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard Campus, Durban, 4041 South Africa
| | - Abiodun J. Fatoba
- grid.16463.360000 0001 0723 4123Discipline of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X54001, Westville, Durban, 4000 South Africa
| | - Moses Okpeku
- grid.16463.360000 0001 0723 4123Discipline of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X54001, Westville, Durban, 4000 South Africa
| | - Adebayo A. Adeniyi
- grid.412219.d0000 0001 2284 638XDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa ,grid.448729.40000 0004 6023 8256Department of Industrial Chemistry, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria
| | - Matthew A. Adeleke
- grid.16463.360000 0001 0723 4123Discipline of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X54001, Westville, Durban, 4000 South Africa
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Establishment of Recombinant Eimeria acervulina Expressing Multi-Copies M2e Derived from Avian Influenza Virus H9N2. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9070791. [PMID: 34358207 PMCID: PMC8310259 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9070791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The potential of Eimeria parasites as live vaccine vectors has been reported with successful genetic manipulation on several species like E. tenella, E. mitis and E. necatrix. Among seven Eimeria species infecting chickens, E. acervulina is a highly prevalent, moderately pathogenic species. Thus, it is valuable for the study of transfection and for use as a potential as vaccine vector. In this study, a plasmid containing expression cassette with enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP), red fluorescent protein (RFP) and 12 copies of extracellular domain of H9N2 avian influenza virus M2 (M2e) protein was used for the transfection. Nucleofected sporozoites were inoculated into birds through wing vein. Recombinant E. acervulina oocysts with 0.1% EYFP+ and RFP+ populations were collected from the feces of the inoculated birds. The fluorescent rate of transgenic parasites reached over 95% after nine successive propagations with a pyrimethamine selection in vivo and fluorescent-activated cell sorting (FACS) of progeny oocysts. The expression of M2e in the transgenic parasites (EaM2e) was confirmed by Western blot and its cytoplasm localization in sporozoites was displayed by an indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA). Meanwhile, we found that the fecundity of EaM2e was equivalent to that of wild type E. acervulina (EaWT). Taken together, the stable transfection of E. acervulina was successfully established. Future studies will focus on whether transgenic E. acervulina can serve as a live vaccine vector.
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Juárez-Estrada MA, Gayosso-Vázquez A, Tellez-Isaias G, Alonso-Morales RA. Protective Immunity Induced by an Eimeria tenella Whole Sporozoite Vaccine Elicits Specific B-Cell Antigens. ANIMALS : AN OPEN ACCESS JOURNAL FROM MDPI 2021; 11:ani11051344. [PMID: 34065041 PMCID: PMC8151427 DOI: 10.3390/ani11051344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Coccidiosis caused by Eimeria tenella is a dreadful disease with a significant economic impact to the poultry industry. The disease has been controlled by routine medication of feed with synthetic chemicals or ionophore drugs. However, the rising appearance of drug resistance and public demands for reduced drug use in poultry production have driven a dramatic change, replacing anticoccidial drugs with alternative methods, such as vaccination with either virulent or attenuated Eimeria oocysts. Based on preliminary studies, the immune protection evaluating whole-sporozoites of E. tenella vaccine was verified. After this vaccine provided successful protection, the humoral response of a heterologous species like the rabbit was compared with the natural host immune response. Several B-cells antigens from the E. tenella sporozoite suitable for a genetically engineered vaccine were identified. Vaccination with newly identified recombinant antigens offers a feasible alternative for the control of avian coccidiosis into the broiler barns favoring the gradual withdrawal of the anticoccidial drugs. Abstract This study investigated protection against Eimeria tenella following the vaccination of chicks with 5.3 × 106E. tenella whole-sporozoites emulsified in the nanoparticle adjuvant IMS 1313 N VG Montanide™ (EtSz-IMS1313). One-day-old specific pathogen-free (SPF) chicks were subcutaneously injected in the neck with EtSz-IMS1313 on the 1st and 10th days of age. Acquired immunity was assayed through a challenge with 3 × 104 homologous sporulated oocysts at 21 days of age. The anticoccidial index (ACI) calculated for every group showed the effectiveness of EtSz-IMS1313 as a vaccine with an ACI of 186; the mock-injected control showed an ACI of 18 and the unimmunized, challenged control showed an ACI of −28. In a comparison assay, antibodies from rabbits and SPF birds immunized with EtSz-IMS1313 recognized almost the same polypeptides in the blotting of E. tenella sporozoites and merozoites. However, rabbit antisera showed the clearest recognition pattern. Polypeptides of 120, 105, 94, 70, 38, and 19 kDa from both E. tenella life cycle stages were the most strongly recognized by both animal species. The E. tenella zoite-specific IgG antibodies from the rabbits demonstrated the feasibility for successful B cell antigen identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco A. Juárez-Estrada
- Departamento de Medicina y Zootecnia de Aves, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Cd. De México 04510, Mexico
- Departamento de Genética y Bioestadística, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Cd. De México 04510, Mexico; (A.G.-V.); (R.A.A.-M.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Amanda Gayosso-Vázquez
- Departamento de Genética y Bioestadística, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Cd. De México 04510, Mexico; (A.G.-V.); (R.A.A.-M.)
| | | | - Rogelio A. Alonso-Morales
- Departamento de Genética y Bioestadística, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, Cd. De México 04510, Mexico; (A.G.-V.); (R.A.A.-M.)
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Wang S, Suo X. Still naïve or primed: Anticoccidial vaccines call for memory. Exp Parasitol 2020; 216:107945. [PMID: 32615133 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2020.107945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Despite decades of investigation to clarify protective mechanisms of anticoccidial responses, one crucial field is neglected, that is, protective memory responses in primed birds. Protective memory immunity is critical for host resistance to reinfection and is the basis of modern vaccinology, especially in developing successful subunit vaccines. There are important differences between the immune responses induced by infections and antigens delivered either as killed, recombinant proteins or as live, replicating vector vaccines or as DNA vaccines. Animals immunized with these vaccines may fail to develop protective memory immunity, and is still naïve to Eimeria infection. This may explain why limited success is achieved in developing next-generation anticoccidial vaccines. In this review, we try to decipher the protective memory responses against Eimeria infection, assess immune responses elicited by various anticoccidial vaccine candidates, and propose possible approaches to develop rational vaccines that can induce a protective memory response to chicken coccidiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Wang
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology of the Ministry of Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xun Suo
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology of the Ministry of Agriculture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
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