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Perera DJ, Koger-Pease C, Paulini K, Daoudi M, Ndao M. Beyond schistosomiasis: unraveling co-infections and altered immunity. Clin Microbiol Rev 2024; 37:e0009823. [PMID: 38319102 PMCID: PMC10938899 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00098-23] [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] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by the helminth Schistosoma spp. and has the second highest global impact of all parasites. Schistosoma are transmitted through contact with contaminated fresh water predominantly in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and South America. Due to the widespread prevalence of Schistosoma, co-infection with other infectious agents is common but often poorly described. Herein, we review recent literature describing the impact of Schistosoma co-infection between species and Schistosoma co-infection with blood-borne protozoa, soil-transmitted helminths, various intestinal protozoa, Mycobacterium, Salmonella, various urinary tract infection-causing agents, and viral pathogens. In each case, disease severity and, of particular interest, the immune landscape, are altered as a consequence of co-infection. Understanding the impact of schistosomiasis co-infections will be important when considering treatment strategies and vaccine development moving forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilhan J. Perera
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Cal Koger-Pease
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
| | - Kayla Paulini
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Mohamed Daoudi
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Momar Ndao
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- National Reference Centre for Parasitology, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
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Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a parasitic protist infecting a wide group of warm-blooded animals, ranging from birds to humans. While this infection is usually asymptomatic in healthy individuals, it can also lead to severe ocular or neurological outcomes in immunocompromised individuals or in developing fetuses. This obligate intracellular parasite has the ability to infect a considerable range of nucleated cells and can propagate in the intermediate host. Yet, under the pressure of the immune system it transforms into an encysted persistent form residing primarily in the brain and muscle tissues. Encysted parasites, which are resistant to current medication, may reactivate and give rise to an acute infection. The clinical outcome of toxoplasmosis depends on a complex balance between the host immune response and parasite virulence factors. Susceptibility to the disease is thus determined by both parasite strains and host species. Recent advances on our understanding of host cell-parasite interactions and parasite virulence have brought new insights into the pathophysiology of T. gondii infection and are summarized here.
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Souza SP, Splitt SD, Sànchez-Arcila JC, Alvarez JA, Wilson JN, Wizzard S, Luo Z, Baumgarth N, Jensen KDC. Genetic mapping reveals Nfkbid as a central regulator of humoral immunity to Toxoplasma gondii. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1010081. [PMID: 34871323 PMCID: PMC8675933 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Protective immunity to parasitic infections has been difficult to elicit by vaccines. Among parasites that evade vaccine-induced immunity is Toxoplasma gondii, which causes lethal secondary infections in chronically infected mice. Here we report that unlike susceptible C57BL/6J mice, A/J mice were highly resistant to secondary infection. To identify correlates of immunity, we utilized forward genetics to identify Nfkbid, a nuclear regulator of NF-κB that is required for B cell activation and B-1 cell development. Nfkbid-null mice (“bumble”) did not generate parasite-specific IgM and lacked robust parasite-specific IgG, which correlated with defects in B-2 cell maturation and class-switch recombination. Though high-affinity antibodies were B-2 derived, transfer of B-1 cells partially rescued the immunity defects observed in bumble mice and were required for 100% vaccine efficacy in bone marrow chimeric mice. Immunity in resistant mice correlated with robust isotype class-switching in both B cell lineages, which can be fine-tuned by Nfkbid gene expression. We propose a model whereby humoral immunity to T. gondii is regulated by Nfkbid and requires B-1 and B-2 cells for full protection. Eukaryotic parasitic diseases account for approximately one fifth of all childhood deaths, yet no highly protective vaccine exists for any human parasite. More research must be done to discover how to elicit protective vaccine-induced immunity to parasitic pathogens. We used an unbiased genetic screen to find key genes responsible for immunity to the eukaryotic parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Our screen found Nfkbid, a transcription factor regulator, which controls B cell activation and innate-like B-1 cell development. Mice without Nfkbid were not protected against T. gondii and were deficient at making antibodies against the parasite. Our survival studies of vaccinated mice with and without B-1 compartments found that B-1 cells improved survival, suggesting that B-1 cells act in conjunction with B-2 cells to provide vaccine-induced immunity. Nfkbid and other loci identified in our unbiased screen represent potential targets for vaccines to elicit protective immune responses against parasitic pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott P. Souza
- School of Natural Sciences, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
- Graduate Program in Quantitative and Systems Biology, University of California, Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
| | - Samantha D. Splitt
- School of Natural Sciences, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
- Graduate Program in Quantitative and Systems Biology, University of California, Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
| | - Juan C. Sànchez-Arcila
- School of Natural Sciences, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
| | - Julia A. Alvarez
- School of Natural Sciences, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
- Graduate Program in Quantitative and Systems Biology, University of California, Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
| | - Jessica N. Wilson
- School of Natural Sciences, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
- Graduate Program in Quantitative and Systems Biology, University of California, Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
| | - Safuwra Wizzard
- School of Natural Sciences, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
| | - Zheng Luo
- Center for Immunology & Infectious Diseases, and Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Nicole Baumgarth
- Center for Immunology & Infectious Diseases, and Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Kirk D. C. Jensen
- School of Natural Sciences, Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
- Health Science Research Institute, University of California, Merced, Merced, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Olivera GC, Vetter L, Tesoriero C, Del Gallo F, Hedberg G, Basile J, Rottenberg ME. Role of T cells during the cerebral infection with Trypanosoma brucei. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009764. [PMID: 34587172 PMCID: PMC8530334 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The infection by Trypanosoma brucei brucei (T.b.b.), a protozoan parasite, is characterized by an early-systemic stage followed by a late stage in which parasites invade the brain parenchyma in a T cell-dependent manner. Here we found that early after infection effector-memory T cells were predominant among brain T cells, whereas, during the encephalitic stage T cells acquired a tissue resident memory phenotype (TRM) and expressed PD1. Both CD4 and CD8 T cells were independently redundant for the penetration of T.b.b. and other leukocytes into the brain parenchyma. The role of lymphoid cells during the T.b.b. infection was studied by comparing T- and B-cell deficient rag1-/- and WT mice. Early after infection, parasites located in circumventricular organs, brain structures with increased vascular permeability, particularly in the median eminence (ME), paced closed to the sleep-wake regulatory arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (Arc). Whereas parasite levels in the ME were higher in rag1-/- than in WT mice, leukocytes were instead reduced. Rag1-/- infected mice showed increased levels of meca32 mRNA coding for a blood /hypothalamus endothelial molecule absent in the blood-brain-barrier (BBB). Both immune and metabolic transcripts were elevated in the ME/Arc of WT and rag1-/- mice early after infection, except for ifng mRNA, which levels were only increased in WT mice. Finally, using a non-invasive sleep-wake cycle assessment method we proposed a putative role of lymphocytes in mediating sleep alterations during the infection with T.b.b. Thus, the majority of T cells in the brain during the early stage of T.b.b. infection expressed an effector-memory phenotype while TRM cells developed in the late stage of infection. T cells and parasites invade the ME/Arc altering the metabolic and inflammatory responses during the early stage of infection and modulating sleep disturbances. Trypanosoma brucei (T.b.) causes an early systemic and a late encephalitic infection characterized by sleep alterations. In rodent models, brain invasion by T.b. brucei (T.b.b.) is strictly dependent on T cells. However, an in-depth characterization of T cell functions and phenotypes in the outcome of T.b.b. infection is still lacking. Here we found that during the early stage of infection of mice, most brain T cells differentiated into memory cells, and acquired a tissue-resident memory phenotype during the encephalitic stage. CD4 and CD8 T cells were redundant for the invasion of other T cells and parasites into the brain. Early after infection T.b.b. and leukocytes invade different circumventricular organs (brain areas that lack a blood-brain barrier) including the median eminence (ME) located close to sleep-regulating arcuate nucleus (Arc). T.b.b. infection induced the expression of immune and metabolic molecules in this area. Lymphocytes modulated 1) the levels of invading parasites and leukocytes in the ME; 2) the structure of the blood/ hypothalamus interphase and 3) the expression of IFN-γ in the ME/Arc early after infection. Lymphocytes may also be involved in the regulation of sleep alterations observed in African trypanosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela C. Olivera
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Leonie Vetter
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Chiara Tesoriero
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Federico Del Gallo
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Gustav Hedberg
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Juan Basile
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Martin E. Rottenberg
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- * E-mail:
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Singh T, Otero CE, Li K, Valencia SM, Nelson AN, Permar SR. Vaccines for Perinatal and Congenital Infections-How Close Are We? Front Pediatr 2020; 8:569. [PMID: 33384972 PMCID: PMC7769834 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2020.00569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital and perinatal infections are transmitted from mother to infant during pregnancy across the placenta or during delivery. These infections not only cause pregnancy complications and still birth, but also result in an array of pediatric morbidities caused by physical deformities, neurodevelopmental delays, and impaired vision, mobility and hearing. Due to the burden of these conditions, congenital and perinatal infections may result in lifelong disability and profoundly impact an individual's ability to live to their fullest capacity. While there are vaccines to prevent congenital and perinatal rubella, varicella, and hepatitis B infections, many more are currently in development at various stages of progress. The spectrum of our efforts to understand and address these infections includes observational studies of natural history of disease, epidemiological evaluation of risk factors, immunogen design, preclinical research of protective immunity in animal models, and evaluation of promising candidates in vaccine trials. In this review we summarize this progress in vaccine development research for Cytomegalovirus, Group B Streptococcus, Herpes simplex virus, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Toxoplasma, Syphilis, and Zika virus congenital and perinatal infections. We then synthesize this evidence to examine how close we are to developing a vaccine for these infections, and highlight areas where research is still needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tulika Singh
- Duke University Medical Center, Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Claire E. Otero
- Duke University Medical Center, Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Katherine Li
- Duke University Medical Center, Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Sarah M. Valencia
- Duke University Medical Center, Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Ashley N. Nelson
- Duke University Medical Center, Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Sallie R. Permar
- Duke University Medical Center, Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
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Mévélec MN, Lakhrif Z, Dimier-Poisson I. Key Limitations and New Insights Into the Toxoplasma gondii Parasite Stage Switching for Future Vaccine Development in Human, Livestock, and Cats. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:607198. [PMID: 33324583 PMCID: PMC7724089 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.607198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease affecting human, livestock and cat. Prophylactic strategies would be ideal to prevent infection. In a One Health vaccination approach, the objectives would be the prevention of congenital disease in both women and livestock, prevention/reduction of T. gondii tissue cysts in food-producing animals; and oocyst shedding in cats. Over the last few years, an explosion of strategies for vaccine development, especially due to the development of genetic-engineering technologies has emerged. The field of vaccinology has been exploring safer vaccines by the generation of recombinant immunogenic proteins, naked DNA vaccines, and viral/bacterial recombinants vectors. These strategies based on single- or few antigens, are less efficacious than recombinant live-attenuated, mostly tachyzoite T. gondii vaccine candidates. Reflections on the development of an anti-Toxoplasma vaccine must focus not only on the appropriate route of administration, capable of inducing efficient immune response, but also on the choice of the antigen (s) of interest and the associated delivery systems. To answer these questions, the choice of the animal model is essential. If mice helped in understanding the protection mechanisms, the data obtained cannot be directly transposed to humans, livestock and cats. Moreover, effectiveness vaccines should elicit strong and protective humoral and cellular immune responses at both local and systemic levels against the different stages of the parasite. Finally, challenge protocols should use the oral route, major natural route of infection, either by feeding tissue cysts or oocysts from different T. gondii strains. Effective Toxoplasma vaccines depend on our understanding of the (1) protective host immune response during T. gondii invasion and infection in the different hosts, (2) manipulation and modulation of host immune response to ensure survival of the parasites able to evade and subvert host immunity, (3) molecular mechanisms that define specific stage development. This review presents an overview of the key limitations for the development of an effective vaccine and highlights the contributions made by recent studies on the mechanisms behind stage switching to offer interesting perspectives for vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zineb Lakhrif
- Team BioMAP, Université de Tours, INRAE, ISP, Tours, France
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Do Toxoplasma gondii apicoplast proteins have antigenic potential? An in silico study. Comput Biol Chem 2020; 84:107158. [DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2019.107158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Li ZY, Lu J, Zhang NZ, Elsheikha HM, Hou JL, Guo HT, Zhu XQ. Immunization with plasmid DNA expressing Heat Shock Protein 40 confers prophylactic protection against chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection in Kunming mice. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 25:37. [PMID: 30040611 PMCID: PMC6057741 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2018040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 07/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii causes one of the most common protozoal diseases of humans and animals worldwide. With the aim of designing an effective vaccine against T. gondii infection, we examined the immunogenicity of a DNA vaccine expressing heat shock protein 40 (HSP40) against challenge with T. gondii (type I RH and type II Pru) strains in Kunming mice. The plasmid pVAX1-HSP40 was constructed and used to immunize mice by intramuscular injection for three sequential immunizations with two-week intervals. This immunization regimen significantly reduced parasite cyst burden in pVAX1-HSP40-immunized mice (1871.9 ± 142.3) compared with control mouse groups immunized with pVAX1 (3479.2 ± 204.4), phosphate buffered saline (3024.4 ± 212.8), or left untreated (3275.0 ± 179.8) as healthy controls (p < 0.01). However, immunization failed to protect mice against challenge with the virulent RH strain. There was a significant increase in T lymphocyte subclasses (CD3e+CD4+ T and CD3e+CD8a+ T lymphocytes) in splenic tissues in immunized mice compared with controls (p < 0.05). However, the level of antibodies, lymphocyte proliferation and concentration of cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-12p70) were not significantly different between immunized and control mouse groups (p < 0.05). These data indicate that pVAX1-HSP40 induced specific immune responses and achieved a significant reduction in the number of brain cysts in Pru-infected mice, and thus can be tested in future immunization studies along with plasmids containing other immunogenic proteins as a cocktail vaccine to fully abolish chronic toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong-Yuan Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, PR China - State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China
| | - Jing Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China
| | - Nian-Zhang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China
| | - Hany M Elsheikha
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Jun-Ling Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China
| | - Hai-Ting Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China - College of Biological Science and Technology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163319, PR China
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China
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Jeffers V, Tampaki Z, Kim K, Sullivan WJ. A latent ability to persist: differentiation in Toxoplasma gondii. Cell Mol Life Sci 2018; 75:2355-2373. [PMID: 29602951 PMCID: PMC5988958 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-018-2808-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2017] [Revised: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
A critical factor in the transmission and pathogenesis of Toxoplasma gondii is the ability to convert from an acute disease-causing, proliferative stage (tachyzoite), to a chronic, dormant stage (bradyzoite). The conversion of the tachyzoite-containing parasitophorous vacuole membrane into the less permeable bradyzoite cyst wall allows the parasite to persist for years within the host to maximize transmissibility to both primary (felids) and secondary (virtually all other warm-blooded vertebrates) hosts. This review presents our current understanding of the latent stage, including the factors that are important in bradyzoite induction and maintenance. Also discussed are the recent studies that have begun to unravel the mechanisms behind stage switching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Jeffers
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
| | - Zoi Tampaki
- Departments of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, and Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Kami Kim
- Departments of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, and Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - William J Sullivan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
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Ching XT, Fong MY, Lau YL. Evaluation of the Protective Effect of Deoxyribonucleic Acid Vaccines Encoding Granule Antigen 2 and 5 Against Acute Toxoplasmosis in BALB/c Mice. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2017; 96:1441-1447. [PMID: 28719288 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractToxoplasma gondii infects a broad range of warm-blooded hosts, including humans. Important clinical manifestations include encephalitis in immunocompromised patients as well as miscarriage and fetal damage during early pregnancy. Toxoplasma gondii dense granule antigen 2 and 5 (GRA2 and GRA5) are essential for parasitophorous vacuole development of the parasite. To evaluate the potential of GRA2 and GRA5 as recombinant DNA vaccine candidates, these antigens were cloned into eukaryotic expression vector (pcDNA 3.1C) and evaluated in vaccination experiments. Recombinant DNA vaccines constructed with genes encoding GRAs were validated in Chinese hamster ovary cells before evaluation using lethal challenge of the virulent T. gondii RH strain in BALB/c mice. The DNA vaccines of pcGRA2 and pcGRA5 elicited cellular-mediated immune response with significantly higher levels of interferon-gamma, interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-4, and IL-10 (P < 0.05) compared with controls. A mixed T-helper cell 1 (Th1)/Th2 response was associated with slightly prolonged survival. These findings provide evidence that DNA vaccination with GRA2 and GRA5 is associated with Th1-like cell-mediated immune responses. It will be worthwhile to construct recombinant multiantigen combining full-length GRA2 or/and GRA5 with various antigenic proteins such as the surface antigens and rhoptry antigens to improve vaccination efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Teng Ching
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mun Yik Fong
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Yee Ling Lau
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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11
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Czarnewski P, Araújo ECB, Oliveira MC, Mineo TWP, Silva NM. Recombinant TgHSP70 Immunization Protects against Toxoplasma gondii Brain Cyst Formation by Enhancing Inducible Nitric Oxide Expression. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:142. [PMID: 28487847 PMCID: PMC5403831 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is known to cause congenital infection in humans and animals and severe disease in immunocompromised individuals; consequently development of vaccines against the parasite is highly necessary. Under stress conditions, T. gondii expresses the highly immunogenic heat shock protein 70 (TgHSP70). Here, we assessed the protective efficacy of rTgHSP70 immunization combined with Alum in oral ME-49 T. gondii infection and the mechanisms involved on it. It was observed that immunized mice with rTgHSP70 or rTgHSP70 adsorbed in Alum presented a significantly reduced number of cysts in the brain that was associated with increased iNOS+ cell numbers in the organ, irrespective the use of the adjuvant. Indeed, ex vivo experiments showed that peritoneal macrophages pre-stimulated with rTgHSP70 presented increased NO production and enhanced parasite killing, and the protein was able to directly stimulate B cells toward antibody producing profile. In addition, rTgHSP70 immunization leads to high specific antibody titters systemically and a mixed IgG1/IgG2a response, with predominance of IgG1 production. Nonetheless, it was observed that the pretreatment of the parasite with rTgHSP70 immune sera was not able to control T. gondii internalization and replication by NIH fibroblast neither peritoneal murine macrophages, nor anti-rTgHSP70 antibodies were able to kill T. gondii by complement-mediated lysis, suggesting that these mechanisms are not crucial to resistance. Interestingly, when in combination with Alum, rTgHSP70 immunization was able to reduce inflammation in the brain of infected mice and in parallel anti-rTgHSP70 immune complexes in the serum. In conclusion, immunization with rTgHSP70 induces massive amounts of iNOS expression and reduced brain parasitism, suggesting that iNOS expression and consequently NO production in the brain is a protective mechanism induced by TgHSP70 immunization, therefore rTgHSP70 can be a good candidate for vaccine development against toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo Czarnewski
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of UberlândiaUberlândia, Brazil
| | - Ester C B Araújo
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of UberlândiaUberlândia, Brazil
| | - Mário C Oliveira
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of UberlândiaUberlândia, Brazil
| | - Tiago W P Mineo
- Laboratory of Immunoparasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of UberlândiaUberlândia, Brazil
| | - Neide M Silva
- Laboratory of Immunopathology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of UberlândiaUberlândia, Brazil
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12
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Luo F, Zheng L, Hu Y, Liu S, Wang Y, Xiong Z, Hu X, Tan F. Induction of Protective Immunity against Toxoplasma gondii in Mice by Nucleoside Triphosphate Hydrolase-II (NTPase-II) Self-amplifying RNA Vaccine Encapsulated in Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP). Front Microbiol 2017; 8:605. [PMID: 28424680 PMCID: PMC5380742 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA-based vaccine represents an irresistible and safe immunization strategy with decreasing theoretical risks of genomic integration and malignant cell transformation. To our knowledge, however, there is no report about development of RNA vaccine against Toxoplasma gondii infection. We have previously demonstrated that the recombinant T. gondii nucleoside triphosphate hydrolase-II (NTPase-II) protein is able to provide protective Th1 cell-mediated immunity against T. gondii. Herein, we evaluated the immunogenic potential of a self-amplifying RNA vaccine-encoding T. gondii NTPase-II gene, RREP-NTPase-II, delivered by a synthetic lipid nanoparticle (LNP). Immunization of mice with naked RREP-NTPase-II induced a strong cellular and humoral immune response with high-IgG antibody titers and IFN-γ production. The immunized mice displayed significantly prolonged survival time and reduction in brain parasite load (46.4%) compared with control group. Furthermore, mice vaccinated with RREP-NTPase-II-encapsulated LNP displayed significantly enhanced protection against acute infection as well as chronic infection with PRU cyst, which shows 62.1% reduction in brain cyst burden in comparison to control group. These results suggest that the combination of self-amplifying RNA and LNP ion would be beneficial to the development of a safe and long-acting vaccine against toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangjun Luo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhuji People's HospitalZhuji, China
| | - Lina Zheng
- Institute of Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhou, China
| | - Yue Hu
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhou, China
| | - Shuxian Liu
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhou, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhou, China
| | - Zhongkui Xiong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shaoxing Second HospitalShaoxing, China
| | - Xin Hu
- Department of Basic Laboratory Medicine, School of Medical Laboratory Science and School of Life Science, Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhou, China
| | - Feng Tan
- Department of Parasitology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical UniversityWenzhou, China
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13
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Chuang SC, Chung YC, Yang CD. Protective immunity against toxoplasmosis in mice induced by single-dose immunization with rSAG1/2 protein released from poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microparticles. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 24:5. [PMID: 28145222 PMCID: PMC5780786 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2017004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2016] [Accepted: 01/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Triphasic sustained release of tachyzoite chimeric protein, rSAG1/2, from poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG)-encapsulated rSAG1/2 (PLG-rSAG1/2) microparticles (MPs) is a promising characteristic for developing a single-dose vaccine against Toxoplasma gondii in domestic animals. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate whether single immunization with PLG-rSAG1/2 MPs in BALB/c mice would achieve effective immunity and protection against T. gondii. Peritoneal immunization of mice with a single dose of PLG-rSAG1/2 MPs enhanced serum IgG titers and lymphocyte proliferation in a triphasic model over a long 12-week period. In addition, 12 weeks after immunization, significant production of IFN-γ was also monitored in mice vaccinated with one dose of PLG-rSAG1/2 MPs. More importantly, the immunity induced by one dose of PLG-rSAG1/2 MPs protected 70% of mice (14/20) against a lethal subcutaneous challenge of 1 × 104 live tachyzoites of T. gondii (RH strain). In conclusion, a single dose of PLG-rSAG1/2 MPs capable of sustaining triphasic release of rSAG1/2 protein induces long-lasting triphasic immunity against T. gondii in mice. Our data indicate the feasibility of PLG-rSAG1/2 MPs to be developed as a single-dose vaccine against T. gondii for potential use in domestic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Chun Chuang
- Orthopaedic Research Center and Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 100, Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
| | - Yao-Chi Chung
- Graduate Institute of Animal Vaccine Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, No. 1, Shuefu Road, Neipu, Pingtung 912, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Da Yang
- Graduate Institute of Animal Vaccine Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, No. 1, Shuefu Road, Neipu, Pingtung 912, Taiwan
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Rougier S, Montoya JG, Peyron F. Lifelong Persistence of Toxoplasma Cysts: A Questionable Dogma? Trends Parasitol 2016; 33:93-101. [PMID: 27939103 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2016.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2016] [Revised: 10/01/2016] [Accepted: 10/19/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
It is believed that infection by Toxoplasma gondii triggers a lifelong protective immunity due to the persistence of parasitic cysts which induce immunoprotection against reinfection. A review of the scientific literature since the 1950s did not yield any definitive data regarding the duration of cysts in the host or the presence of lifelong protective immunity, which led us to question this dogma. We put forward the hypothesis that sustained immunity to T. gondii requires repeated antigenic stimulations. The decline of seroprevalence recently observed in many countries might contribute to explain the loss of immunity. We address the potential consequences of this phenomenon, should it persist and worsen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solène Rougier
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, Institut de Parasitologie et Mycologie Médicale, Hôpital de la Croix Rousse, F-69317 Lyon, France
| | - Jose G Montoya
- Department of Medicine and Division of Infectious Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Palo Alto Medical Foundation Toxoplasma Serology Laboratory, Palo Alto, CA 94301, USA
| | - François Peyron
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, Institut de Parasitologie et Mycologie Médicale, Hôpital de la Croix Rousse, F-69317 Lyon, France.
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15
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Peroxiredoxin 3 promotes IL-12 production from macrophages and partially protects mice against infection with Toxoplasma gondii. Parasitol Int 2016; 65:741-748. [DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2016.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2016] [Revised: 09/10/2016] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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16
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Li XZ, Lv L, Zhang X, Anchang KY, Abdullahi AY, Tu L, Wang X, Xia L, Zhang XX, Feng W, Lu C, Li S, Yuan ZG. Recombinant canine adenovirus type-2 expressing TgROP16 provides partial protection against acute Toxoplasma gondii infection in mice. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2016; 45:447-453. [PMID: 27742446 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2016.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Revised: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that the survival time of BALB/c mice challenged with Toxoplasma gondii RH strain was prolonged by immunising the mice with a eukaryotic vector expressing the protein ROP16 of T. gondii. Building upon previous findings, we are exploring improved vaccination strategies to enhance protection. In this work, a novel recombinant canine adenovirus type 2 expressing ROP16 (CAV-2-ROP16) of T. gondii was constructed and identified to express ROP16 in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells (MDCK) cells by western blot (WB) and indirect immunofluorescence (IFA) assays. Intramuscular immunisation of BALB/c mice with CAV-2-ROP16 was performed to evaluate the humoral and cellular immune responses. This vaccination triggered significant humoral and cellular responses, including ROP16-stimulated lymphoproliferation (P<0.05). Compared to control groups, the CAV-2-ROP16 immunised mice had high production of IFN-γ, IL-2 and IL-12 (P<0.05), with a predominance of IgG2a production, but not IL-10 (P>0.05), revealing that a predominant Th1-type response had developed. The cell-mediated cytotoxic activity with high levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α was significantly increased in both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell compartments in the mice immunised with CAV-2-ROP16 (P<0.05), compared to three control groups. In addition, when immunised mice were challenged with the RH strain of T. gondii, they showed a significantly increased survival rate (25%) 80days post infection compared with control mice that all died within seven days (P<0.05). The 25% protection rate elicited by the recombinant virus CAV-2-ROP16 has not been achieved in the field of anti-T. gondii vaccination until now. Our work presents the successful use of recombinant virus CAV-2-ROP16 in vaccination protocols to protect against intraperitoneal challenge with the virulent RH strain of T. gondii. This system was shown to be extremely efficient in eliciting humoral and cellular immune responses that led to a significant improvement in survival time in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiu-Zhen Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, 483 Wushan Rd, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510642, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510642, PR China
| | - Lin Lv
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, 483 Wushan Rd, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510642, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510642, PR China
| | - Xu Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang Province 163319, PR China
| | - Kenneth Yongabi Anchang
- Phytobiotechnology Research Foundation Institute (PRF), Catholic University of Cameroon, 999108 Bamenda, Cameroon
| | - Auwalu Yusuf Abdullahi
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, 483 Wushan Rd, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510642, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510642, PR China
| | - Liqing Tu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, 483 Wushan Rd, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510642, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510642, PR China
| | - Xiaohu Wang
- Institute of Animal Health, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510642, PR China
| | - Lijun Xia
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, 483 Wushan Rd, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510642, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510642, PR China
| | - Xiu-Xiang Zhang
- College of Agriculture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510642, PR China
| | - Weili Feng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, 483 Wushan Rd, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510642, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510642, PR China
| | - Chunxia Lu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510642, PR China
| | - Shoujun Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, 483 Wushan Rd, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510642, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510642, PR China
| | - Zi-Guo Yuan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases, 483 Wushan Rd, Tianhe District, Guangzhou 510642, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510642, PR China.
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17
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Zare-Bidaki M, Assar S, Hakimi H, Abdollahi SH, Nosratabadi R, Kennedy D, Arababadi MK. TGF-β in Toxoplasmosis: Friend or foe? Cytokine 2016; 86:29-35. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2016.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Revised: 06/29/2016] [Accepted: 07/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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18
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Lee DH, Lee SH, Kim AR, Quan FS. Virus-Like Nanoparticle Vaccine Confers Protection against Toxoplasma gondii. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0161231. [PMID: 27548677 PMCID: PMC4993474 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Accepted: 08/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The inner membrane complex (IMC) of Toxoplasma gondii as a peripheral membrane system has unique and critical roles in parasite replication, motility and invasion. Disruption of IMC sub-compartment protein produces a severe defect in T. gondii endodyogeny, the form of internal cell budding. In this study, we generated T. gondii virus-like particle particles (VLPs) containing proteins derived from IMC, and investigated their efficacy as a vaccine in mice. VLP vaccination induced Toxoplasma gondii-specific total IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a antibody responses in the sera and IgA antibody responses in the feces. Upon challenge infection with a lethal dose of T. gondii (ME49), all vaccinated mice survived, whereas all naïve control mice died. Vaccinated mice showed significantly reduced cyst load and cyst size in the brain. VLP vaccination also induced IgA and IgG antibody responses in feces and intestines, and antibody-secreting plasma cells, mixed Th1/Th2 cytokines and CD4+/CD8+ T cells from spleen. Taken together, these results indicate that non-replicating VLPs containing inner membrane complex of T. gondii represent a promising strategy for the development of a safe and effective vaccine to control the spread of Toxoplasma gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Hun Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Su Hwa Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ah Ra Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Fu Shi Quan
- Department of Medical Zoology, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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19
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Lee SH, Kim SS, Lee DH, Kim AR, Quan FS. Evaluation of protective efficacy induced by virus-like particles containing a Trichinella spiralis excretory-secretory (ES) protein in mice. Parasit Vectors 2016; 9:384. [PMID: 27378450 PMCID: PMC4932752 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1662-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2016] [Accepted: 06/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The frequent outbreaks of human trichinellosis globally underscore the need to develop effective vaccine. We hypothesized that a novel vaccine could improve vaccine efficacy against Trichinella spiralis. METHODS In this study, we developed virus-like particles (VLPs) containing the 53 KDa excretory/secretory (ES) protein of T. spiralis and the influenza matrix protein 1 (M1) as a core protein, and investigated the protective efficacy of the VLPs alone or with cholera toxin (CT) in a mouse model. RESULTS Intramuscular immunization induced T. spiralis-specific IgG, IgG1 and IgG2a antibody responses before and after challenge infections in the sera. These antibody responses were significantly enhanced in mice immunized with adjuvanted VLPs. Upon challenge infection, vaccinated mice showed significantly reduced worm burden in the diaphragm. Protective immune responses and efficacy of protection were significantly improved by immunization with VLPs together with CT adjuvant. CONCLUSIONS Our results are informative for a better understanding of the protective immunity induced by T. spiralis VLPs, and will provide insight into designing safe and effective vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su-Hwa Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Medical Zoology, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sang-Soo Kim
- Department of Medical Zoology, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Dong-Hun Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Medical Zoology, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ah-Ra Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Medical Zoology, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Fu-Shi Quan
- Department of Medical Zoology, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
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20
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Ching XT, Fong MY, Lau YL. Evaluation of Immunoprotection Conferred by the Subunit Vaccines of GRA2 and GRA5 against Acute Toxoplasmosis in BALB/c Mice. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:609. [PMID: 27199938 PMCID: PMC4847622 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2016] [Accepted: 04/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a foodborne disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular parasite. Severe symptoms occur in the immunocompromised patients and pregnant women leading to fatality and abortions respectively. Vaccination development is essential to control the disease. The T. gondii dense granule antigen 2 and 5 (GRA2 and GRA5) have been targeted in this study because these proteins are essential to the development of parasitophorous vacuole (PV), a specialized compartment formed within the infected host cell. PV is resistance to host cell endosomes and lysosomes thereby protecting the invaded parasite. Recombinant dense granular proteins, GRA2 (rGRA2) and GRA5 (rGRA5) were cloned, expressed, and purified in Escherichia coli, BL21 (DE3) pLysS. The potential of these purified antigens as subunit vaccine candidates against toxoplasmosis were evaluated through subcutaneous injection of BALB/c mice followed by immunological characterization (humoral- and cellular-mediated) and lethal challenge against virulent T. gondii RH strain in BALB/c mice. Results obtained demonstrated that rGRA2 and rGRA5 elicited humoral and cellular-mediated immunity in the mice. High level of IgG antibody was produced with the isotype IgG2a/IgG1 ratio of ≈0.87 (p < 0.001). Significant increase (p < 0.05) in the level of four cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10) was obtained. The antibody and cytokine results suggest that a mix mode of Th1/Th2-immunity was elicited with predominant Th1-immune response inducing partial protection against T. gondii acute infection in BALB/c mice. Our findings indicated that both GRA2 and GRA5 are potential candidates for vaccine development against T. gondii acute infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao T Ching
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mun Y Fong
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Yee L Lau
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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21
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Zhao Y, Li ZY, Chen J, Sun XL, Liu SS, Zhu XQ, Zhou DH. Protective efficacy of pVAX-RON5p against acute and chronic infections of Toxoplasma gondii in BALB/c mice. Exp Parasitol 2016; 163:24-30. [PMID: 26821295 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2016.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Revised: 01/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/23/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii can infect all the warm-blooded animals and humans and causes serious diseases especially in immuno-compromised patients and pregnant women. Rhoptry neck proteins (RONs) play an important role in the formation of moving junction, which mediates the invasion of this parasite. A recombinant plasmid pVAX-RON5p, which can express part of RON5 protein in the eukaryocyte, was generated and used to immune BALB/c mice for evaluating the protective efficacy against the acute and chronic infections of T. gondii. Both humoral and cellular immune responses were evoked in mice by pVAX-RON5p immunization, and a slightly prolonged survival period was detected in the immunized group (7.6 ± 3.31 days) compared to the blank control (4.9 ± 0.32 days) after acute T. gondii infection (P < 0.05). For chronic infection of T. gondii, the number of cysts in the brain of pVAX-RON5p-immunized mice decreased 25.8% compared to blank control (P < 0.05). Our data suggested that RON5p DNA vaccine can induce partial protective immunity against acute and chronic T. gondii infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730070, PR China
| | - Zhong-Yuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China; College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang Province 163319, PR China
| | - Jia Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China
| | - Xiao-Lin Sun
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730070, PR China
| | - Shan-Shan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China; College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510642, PR China
| | - Xing-Quan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province 225009, PR China
| | - Dong-Hui Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China.
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22
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Zorgi NE, Galisteo AJ, Sato MN, do Nascimento N, de Andrade HF. Immunity in the spleen and blood of mice immunized with irradiated Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites. Med Microbiol Immunol 2016; 205:297-314. [PMID: 26732075 DOI: 10.1007/s00430-015-0447-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii infection induces a strong and long-lasting immune response that is able to prevent most reinfections but allows tissue cysts. Irradiated, sterilized T. gondii tachyzoites are an interesting vaccine, and they induce immunity that is similar to infection, but without cysts. In this study, we evaluated the cellular immune response in the blood and spleen of mice immunized with this preparation by mouth (v.o.) or intraperitoneally (i.p.) and analyzed the protection after challenge with viable parasites. BALB/c mice were immunized with three i.p. or v.o. doses of irradiated T. gondii tachyzoites. Oral challenge with ten cysts of the ME-49 or VEG strain at 90 days after the last dose resulted in high levels of protection with low parasite burden in the immunized animals. There were higher levels of specific IgG, IgA and IgM antibodies in the serum, and the i.p. immunized mice had higher levels of the high-affinity IgG and IgM antibodies than the orally immunized mice, which had more high-affinity IgA antibodies. B cells (CD19(+)), plasma cells (CD138(+)) and the CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell populations were increased in both the blood and spleen. Cells from the spleen of the i.p. immunized mice also showed antigen-induced production of interleukin-10 (IL-10), interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin 4 (IL-4). The CD4(+) T cells, B cells and likely CD8(+) T cells from the spleens of the i.p. immunized mice proliferated with a specific antigen. The protection was correlated with the spleen and blood CD8(+) T cell, high-affinity IgG and IgM and antigen-induced IL-10 and IL-4 production. Immunization with irradiated T. gondii tachyzoites induces an immune response that is mediated by B cells and CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, with increased humoral and cellular immune responses that are necessary for host protection after infection. The vaccine is similar to natural infection, but free of tissue cysts; this immunity restrains infection at challenge and can be an attractive and efficient model for vaccine development in toxoplasmosis.
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MESH Headings
- Administration, Oral
- Animals
- Antibodies, Protozoan/blood
- B-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Blood/immunology
- Cell Proliferation
- Cytokines/metabolism
- Disease Models, Animal
- Immunity, Cellular
- Immunity, Humoral
- Immunoglobulin A/blood
- Immunoglobulin G/blood
- Immunoglobulin M/blood
- Injections, Intraperitoneal
- Male
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Protozoan Vaccines/administration & dosage
- Protozoan Vaccines/immunology
- Spleen/immunology
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology
- Toxoplasma/immunology
- Toxoplasmosis, Animal/prevention & control
- Vaccines, Inactivated/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, Inactivated/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Nahiara Esteves Zorgi
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédica, USP, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374, Edifício Biomédicas II Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, CEP: 05508-000, Brazil
- Laboratório de Protozoologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, FMUSP, USP, Av. Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 470, 1° Andar, São Paulo, SP, CEP: 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Andrés Jimenez Galisteo
- Laboratório de Protozoologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, FMUSP, USP, Av. Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 470, 1° Andar, São Paulo, SP, CEP: 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Maria Notomi Sato
- Departamento de Dermatologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, FMUSP, USP, Av. Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 470, 3° Andar, São Paulo, SP, CEP: 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Nanci do Nascimento
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, IPEN, Rua Travessa 400, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, CEP: 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Heitor Franco de Andrade
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédica, USP, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374, Edifício Biomédicas II Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, CEP: 05508-000, Brazil.
- Laboratório de Protozoologia, Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, FMUSP, USP, Av. Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 470, 1° Andar, São Paulo, SP, CEP: 05403-000, Brazil.
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Pinzan CF, Sardinha-Silva A, Almeida F, Lai L, Lopes CD, Lourenço EV, Panunto-Castelo A, Matthews S, Roque-Barreira MC. Vaccination with Recombinant Microneme Proteins Confers Protection against Experimental Toxoplasmosis in Mice. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0143087. [PMID: 26575028 PMCID: PMC4648487 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2015] [Accepted: 10/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is an important public health problem and veterinary concern. Although there is no vaccine for human toxoplasmosis, many attempts have been made to develop one. Promising vaccine candidates utilize proteins, or their genes, from microneme organelle of T. gondii that are involved in the initial stages of host cell invasion by the parasite. In the present study, we used different recombinant microneme proteins (TgMIC1, TgMIC4, or TgMIC6) or combinations of these proteins (TgMIC1-4 and TgMIC1-4-6) to evaluate the immune response and protection against experimental toxoplasmosis in C57BL/6 mice. Vaccination with recombinant TgMIC1, TgMIC4, or TgMIC6 alone conferred partial protection, as demonstrated by reduced brain cyst burden and mortality rates after challenge. Immunization with TgMIC1-4 or TgMIC1-4-6 vaccines provided the most effective protection, since 70% and 80% of mice, respectively, survived to the acute phase of infection. In addition, these vaccinated mice, in comparison to non-vaccinated ones, showed reduced parasite burden by 59% and 68%, respectively. The protective effect was related to the cellular and humoral immune responses induced by vaccination and included the release of Th1 cytokines IFN-γ and IL-12, antigen-stimulated spleen cell proliferation, and production of antigen-specific serum antibodies. Our results demonstrate that microneme proteins are potential vaccines against T. gondii, since their inoculation prevents or decreases the deleterious effects of the infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Figueiredo Pinzan
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Aline Sardinha-Silva
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fausto Almeida
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Livia Lai
- Division of Molecular Biosciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Carla Duque Lopes
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Elaine Vicente Lourenço
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, 90095–1670, United States of America
| | - Ademilson Panunto-Castelo
- Department of Biology, School of Philosophy, Sciences and Literature of Ribeirão Preto, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Stephen Matthews
- Division of Molecular Biosciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Cristina Roque-Barreira
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Immunological changes induced by Toxoplasma gondii Glutathione-S-Transferase (TgGST) delivered as a DNA vaccine. Res Vet Sci 2015; 99:157-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2014.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2014] [Revised: 11/18/2014] [Accepted: 12/03/2014] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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Amar S, Engelke M. Periodontal innate immune mechanisms relevant to atherosclerosis. Mol Oral Microbiol 2014; 30:171-85. [PMID: 25388989 DOI: 10.1111/omi.12087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is a common cardiovascular disease in the USA where it is a leading cause of illness and death. Atherosclerosis is the most common cause for heart attack and stroke. Most commonly, people develop atherosclerosis as a result of diabetes, genetic risk factors, high blood pressure, a high-fat diet, obesity, high blood cholesterol levels, and smoking. However, a sizable number of patients suffering from atherosclerosis do not harbor the classical risk factors. Ongoing infections have been suggested to play a role in this process. Periodontal disease is perhaps the most common chronic infection in adults with a wide range of clinical variability and severity. Research in the past decade has shed substantial light on both the initiating infectious agents and host immunological responses in periodontal disease. Up to 46% of the general population harbors the microorganism(s) associated with periodontal disease, although many are able to limit the progression of periodontal disease or even clear the organism(s) if infected. In the last decade, several epidemiological studies have found an association between periodontal infection and atherosclerosis. This review focuses on exploring the molecular consequences of infection by pathogens that exacerbate atherosclerosis, with the focus on infections by the periodontal bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis as a running example.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Amar
- Center for Anti-inflammatory Therapeutics, School of Dental Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
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26
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Lim SSY, Othman RY. Recent advances in Toxoplasma gondii immunotherapeutics. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2014; 52:581-93. [PMID: 25548409 PMCID: PMC4277020 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2014.52.6.581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2014] [Revised: 08/21/2014] [Accepted: 08/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is an opportunistic infection caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. T. gondii is widespread globally and causes severe diseases in individuals with impaired immune defences as well as congenitally infected infants. The high prevalence rate in some parts of the world such as South America and Africa, coupled with the current drug treatments that trigger hypersensitivity reactions, makes the development of immunotherapeutics intervention a highly important research priority. Immunotherapeutics strategies could either be a vaccine which would confer a pre-emptive immunity to infection, or passive immunization in cases of disease recrudescence or recurrent clinical diseases. As the severity of clinical manifestations is often greater in developing nations, the development of well-tolerated and safe immunotherapeutics becomes not only a scientific pursuit, but a humanitarian enterprise. In the last few years, much progress has been made in vaccine research with new antigens, novel adjuvants, and innovative vaccine delivery such as nanoparticles and antigen encapsulations. A literature search over the past 5 years showed that most experimental studies were focused on DNA vaccination at 52%, followed by protein vaccination which formed 36% of the studies, live attenuated vaccinations at 9%, and heterologous vaccination at 3%; while there were few on passive immunization. Recent progress in studies on vaccination, passive immunization, as well as insights gained from these immunotherapeutics is highlighted in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherene Swee-Yin Lim
- Genetics and Molecular Biology Department, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Rofina Yasmin Othman
- Genetics and Molecular Biology Department, Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ; Centre for Research in Biotechnology for Agriculture, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Ochiai E, Sa Q, Brogli M, Kudo T, Wang X, Dubey JP, Suzuki Y. CXCL9 is important for recruiting immune T cells into the brain and inducing an accumulation of the T cells to the areas of tachyzoite proliferation to prevent reactivation of chronic cerebral infection with Toxoplasma gondii. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2014; 185:314-24. [PMID: 25432064 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2014.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2014] [Revised: 09/19/2014] [Accepted: 10/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
T cells are required to maintain the latency of chronic infection with Toxoplasma gondii in the brain. Here, we examined the role of non-glutamic acid-leucine-arginine CXC chemokine CXCL9 for T-cell recruitment to prevent reactivation of infection with T. gondii. Severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice were infected and treated with sulfadiazine to establish a chronic infection. Immune T cells from infected wild-type mice were transferred into the SCID mice in combination with treatment with anti-CXCL9 or control sera. Three days later, sulfadiazine was discontinued to initiate reactivation of infection. Numbers of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells isolated from the brains were markedly less in mice treated with anti-CXCL9 serum than in mice treated with control serum at 3 days after sulfadiazine discontinuation. Amounts of tachyzoite (acute stage form of T. gondii)-specific SAG1 mRNA and numbers of foci associated with tachyzoites were significantly greater in the former than the latter at 5 days after sulfadiazine discontinuation. An accumulation of CD3(+) T cells into the areas of tachyzoite growth was significantly less frequent in the SCID mice treated with anti-CXCL9 serum than in mice treated with control serum. These results indicate that CXCL9 is crucial for recruiting immune T cells into the brain and inducing an accumulation of the T cells into the areas where tachyzoites proliferate to prevent reactivation of chronic T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eri Ochiai
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Qila Sa
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Morgan Brogli
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Tomoya Kudo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Xisheng Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia
| | - Jitender P Dubey
- Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland
| | - Yasuhiro Suzuki
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky; Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia.
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El Temsahy MM, El Kerdany EDH, Eissa MM, Shalaby TI, Talaat IM, Mogahed NMFH. The effect of chitosan nanospheres on the immunogenicity of Toxoplasma lysate vaccine in mice. J Parasit Dis 2014; 40:611-26. [PMID: 27605755 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-014-0546-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2014] [Accepted: 08/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic parasitic disease, is a huge challenge for which there is no effective vaccine up till now. In this study, chitosan nanospheres encapsulated with Toxoplasma lysate vaccine was evaluated for its ability to protect mice against both acute and chronic toxoplasmosis models of infection. Results showed that chitosan nanospheres were equally effective to Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FIA) in enhancing the efficacy of Toxoplasma lysate vaccine. The effectiveness was demonstrated by the delayed death of vaccinated mice following challenge either with virulent RH or avirulent Me49 strains, the significant decrease in parasite density in different organs, significant increase in the humoral and cellular immune response (IgG and IFN γ) with a marked reduction of pathological changes in the different organs. However chitosan nanospheres were superior to FIA due to their cost effective preparation and much less necrotic changes induced in the studied organs. The success of chitosan polymer as an alternative to commonly used adjuvants paves the way for the use of other newly developed polymers to be used in the field of vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona M El Temsahy
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Eman D H El Kerdany
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Maha M Eissa
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Thanaa I Shalaby
- Department of Biophysics and Biomedics, Medical Research Institute, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Iman M Talaat
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Nermine M F H Mogahed
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
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VCAM-1/α4β1 integrin interaction is crucial for prompt recruitment of immune T cells into the brain during the early stage of reactivation of chronic infection with Toxoplasma gondii to prevent toxoplasmic encephalitis. Infect Immun 2014; 82:2826-39. [PMID: 24752515 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01494-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Reactivation of chronic infection with Toxoplasma gondii can cause life-threatening toxoplasmic encephalitis in immunocompromised individuals. We examined the role of VCAM-1/α4β1 integrin interaction in T cell recruitment to prevent reactivation of the infection in the brain. SCID mice were infected and treated with sulfadiazine to establish a chronic infection. VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 were the endothelial adhesion molecules detected on cerebral vessels of the infected SCID and wild-type animals. Immune T cells from infected wild-type mice were treated with anti-α4 integrin or control antibodies and transferred into infected SCID or nude mice, and the animals received the same antibody every other day. Three days later, sulfadiazine was discontinued to initiate reactivation of infection. Expression of mRNAs for CD3δ, CD4, CD8β, gamma interferon (IFN-γ), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2) (an effector molecule to inhibit T. gondii growth) and the numbers of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells in the brain were significantly less in mice treated with anti-α4 integrin antibody than in those treated with control antibody at 3 days after sulfadiazine discontinuation. At 6 days after sulfadiazine discontinuation, cerebral tachyzoite-specific SAG1 mRNA levels and numbers of inflammatory foci associated with tachyzoites were markedly greater in anti-α4 integrin antibody-treated than in control antibody-treated animals, even though IFN-γ and NOS2 mRNA levels were higher in the former than in the latter. These results indicate that VCAM-1/α4β1 integrin interaction is crucial for prompt recruitment of immune T cells and induction of IFN-γ-mediated protective immune responses during the early stage of reactivation of chronic T. gondii infection to control tachyzoite growth.
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Abstract
Parasite-driven dysfunctional adaptive immunity represents an emerging hypothesis to explain the chronic or persistent nature of parasitic infections, as well as the observation that repeated exposure to most parasitic organisms fails to engender sterilizing immunity. This review discusses recent examples from clinical studies and experimental models of parasitic infection that substantiate the role for immune dysfunction in the inefficient generation and maintenance of potent anti-parasitic immunity. Better understanding of the complex interplay between parasites, host adaptive immunity, and relevant negative regulatory circuits will inform efforts to enhance resistance to chronic parasitic infections through vaccination or immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan A Zander
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104 ; Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104
| | - Noah S Butler
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104 ; Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104
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Kur J, Holec-Gąsior L, Hiszczyńska-Sawicka E. Current status of toxoplasmosis vaccine development. Expert Rev Vaccines 2014; 8:791-808. [DOI: 10.1586/erv.09.27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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32
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Immunization with excreted–secreted antigens reduces tissue cyst formation in pigs. Parasitol Res 2013; 112:3835-42. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-013-3571-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2013] [Accepted: 08/01/2013] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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Amar S, Leeman S. Periodontal innate immune mechanisms relevant to obesity. Mol Oral Microbiol 2013; 28:331-41. [PMID: 23911141 DOI: 10.1111/omi.12035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/17/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Obesity affects over 35% of the adult population of the USA, and obesity-related illnesses have emerged as the leading cause of preventable death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Obesity's secondary morbidities include increased risk of cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, and cancer, in addition to increased occurrence and severity of infections. Sedentary lifestyle and weight gain caused by consumption of a high-fat diet contribute to the development of obesity, with individuals having a body mass index (BMI) score > 30 being considered obese. Genetic models of obesity (ob/ob mice, db/db mice, and fa/fa rats) have been insufficient to study human obesity because of the overall lack of genetic causes for obesity in human populations. To date, the diet-induced obese (DIO) mouse model best serves research studies relevant to human health. Periodontal disease presents with a wide range of clinical variability and severity. Research in the past decade has shed substantial light on both the initiating infectious agents and host immunological responses in periodontal disease. Up to 46% of the general population harbors the microorganism(s) associated with periodontal disease, although many are able to limit the progression of periodontal disease or even clear the organism(s) if infected. In the last decade, several epidemiological studies have found an association between obesity and increased incidence of periodontal disease. This review focuses on exploring the immunological consequences of obesity that exacerbate effects of infection by pathogens, with focus on infection by the periodontal bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis as a running example.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Amar
- Center for Anti-inflammatory Therapeutics, Boston University, School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
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Stumhofer JS, Silver JS, Hunter CA. IL-21 is required for optimal antibody production and T cell responses during chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection. PLoS One 2013; 8:e62889. [PMID: 23667536 PMCID: PMC3647013 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0062889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2012] [Accepted: 03/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have indicated that Il21r−/− mice chronically infected with Toxoplasma gondii display a defect in serum IgG; however, the basis for this antibody defect was not defined and questions remain about the role of IL-21 in promoting the production of IL-10, which is required to limit infection-induced pathology during toxoplasmosis. Therefore, Il21−/− mice were challenged with T. gondii to determine whether IL-21 impacts the parasite-specific CD8+ T cell response, its contribution to thymus-dependent antibody production after infection, and balance between protective and pathogenic responses. Whereas IL-21 has been implicated in the differentiation of IL-10 producing CD4+ T cells no immune-mediated pathology was evident in Il21−/− mice during the acute response, nor was there a defect in the development of this population in chronically infected Il21−/− mice. However, Il21−/− mice displayed a defect in IgG production after infection that correlated with a decrease in GC B cell numbers, the CD4+ and CD8+ T cell numbers in the brain were reduced over the course of the chronic infection leading to a decrease in total IFN-γ production and an increase in parasite numbers associated with susceptibility to toxoplasmic encephalitis. Together, these results identify a key role for IL-21 in shaping the humoral and cellular response to T. gondii, but indicate that IL-21 has a limited role in regulating immunopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason S Stumhofer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America.
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Chuang SC, Ko JC, Chen CP, Du JT, Yang CD. Induction of long-lasting protective immunity against Toxoplasma gondii in BALB/c mice by recombinant surface antigen 1 protein encapsulated in poly (lactide-co-glycolide) microparticles. Parasit Vectors 2013; 6:34. [PMID: 23398973 PMCID: PMC3584932 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2012] [Accepted: 02/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current development efforts of subunit vaccines against Toxoplasma gondii, the etiological agent of toxoplasmosis, have been focused mainly on tachyzoite surface antigen 1 (SAG1). Since microparticles made from poly (lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) polymers have been developed as safe, potent adjuvants or delivery systems, we aimed to encapsulate recombinant SAG1 (rSAG1) with the PLG polymers to prepare PLG-encapsulated rSAG1 (PLG-rSAG1) microparticles that would sustain rSAG1 release and generate long-lasting protective immunity against T. gondii in BALB/c mice. METHODS In the present study, rSAG1 was encapsulated into PLG microparticles by the double emulsion method. PLG-rSAG1 microparticles were then intraperitoneally injected twice at a 14-day interval into BALB/c mice. We examined the ability of PLG-rSAG1 microparticles to induce and prolong effective anti-Toxoplasma immune responses, in comparison with rSAG1 formulated with a Vet L-10 adjuvant (rSAG1 (Vet L-10)). Eight weeks after the last immunization, protective activities were also evaluated after a lethal subcutaneous challenge of 1 x 10(4) live T. gondii tachyzoites. RESULTS PLG-rSAG1 microparticles, 4.25~6.58 micrometers in diameter, showed 69%~81% entrapment efficiency. The amount of released rSAG1 protein from microparticles increased gradually over a 35-day period and the protein still retained native SAG1 antigenicity. Intraperitoneal vaccination of mice with the microparticles resulted in enhanced SAG1-specific IgG titers as well as lymphocyte proliferation and, more importantly, these enhanced activities were maintained for 10 weeks. In addition, eight weeks after the last immunization, maximum production of gamma interferon was detected in mice immunized with PLG-rSAG1 microparticles. Furthermore, 80% (8/10) of mice immunized with PLG-rSAG1 microparticles survived at least 28 days after a lethal subcutaneous tachyzoite challenge. CONCLUSIONS Encapsulation of rSAG1 into PLG microparticles preserves the native SAG1 antigenicity and sustains the release of rSAG1 from microparticles. PLG-rSAG1 microparticles can effectively induce not only significant long-lasting SAG1-specific humoral and cell-mediated immune responses but also high protection against T. gondii tachyzoite infection. Our study provides a valuable basis for developing long-lasting vaccines against T. gondii for future use in humans and animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Chun Chuang
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, No 100, Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
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Chen J, Huang SY, Li ZY, Yuan ZG, Zhou DH, Petersen E, Zhang NZ, Zhu XQ. Protective immunity induced by a DNA vaccine expressing eIF4A of Toxoplasma gondii against acute toxoplasmosis in mice. Vaccine 2013; 31:1734-9. [PMID: 23370151 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.01.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2012] [Revised: 01/02/2013] [Accepted: 01/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite infecting humans, mammals and birds. Eukaryotic translation initiation factor (eIF4A) is a newly identified protein associated with tachyzoite virulence. To evaluate the protective efficacy of T. gondii eIF4A, a DNA vaccine (pVAX-eIF4A) encoding T. gondii eIF4A (Tg-eIF4A) gene was constructed. The expression ability of this recombinant DNA plasmid was examined in Marc145 cells by IFA. Then, Kunming mice were intramuscularly immunized with pVAX-eIF4A and followed by challenge infection with the highly virulent T. gondii RH strain. The results showed that vaccination with pVAX-eIF4A elicited specific humoral responses, with high IgG antibody titers and specific lymphocyte proliferative responses. The cellular immune response was associated with significant production of IFN-γ, IL-2 in Kunming mice, and a mixed IgG1/IgG2a response with predominance of IgG2a production, indicating that a Th1 type response was elicited after immunization with pVAX-eIF4A. In addition, the increase of the percentage of CD8+ T cells in lymphoid in mice suggested the activation of MHC class I restricted antigen presentation pathways. After lethal challenge, the mice vaccinated with the pVAX-eIF4A showed a significantly prolonged survival time (23.0±5.5 days) compared with control mice which died within 7 days of challenge (P<0.05). These results demonstrate that pVAX-eIF4A could elicit strong humoral, Th1-type cellular immune responses and increase survival time of immunized mice, suggesting that eIF4A is a promising vaccine candidate against acute T. gondii infection in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, Gansu Province 730046, PR China
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Silva LA, Brandão GP, Pinheiro BV, Vitor RWA. Immunosuppression with cyclophosphamide favors reinfection with recombinant Toxoplasma gondii strains. Parasite 2013; 19:249-57. [PMID: 22910667 PMCID: PMC3671442 DOI: 10.1051/parasite/2012193249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to verify the effect of immunosuppression by cyclophosphamide (Cy) on susceptibility of BALB/c mice subjected to challenge with recombinant strains of Toxoplasma gondii. Animals were prime infected with the D8 (recombinant I/III) or the ME49 (type II) non-virulent strains, weekly immunosuppressed with Cy and challenged with the CH3 or EGS virulent strains (I/III). Parasites recovered from surviving mice were submitted to PCR-RFLP analysis to confirm co-infection. Prime-infection with the D8 strain conferred more protection against challenge with the CH3 and EGS strains when compared with ME49 prime infection. Cy treatment caused significant leukopenia in the infected mice, what probably favors reinfection after challenge. Reinfection was associated with increased levels of IgA. Otherwise, Cy-treated mice presented significantly lower IgA levels after challenge, suggesting involvement of this immunoglobulin on protection against reinfection. In conclusion, BALB/c mice susceptibility to reinfection by T. gondii is related to genetic differences among the strains used for primary and challenge infections. Alteration of the host’s immune integrity by Cy probably compromises the protection previously established by primary infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- L A Silva
- Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Av. Antonio Carlos 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Association between IgG subclasses against Toxoplasma gondii and clinical signs in newborns with congenital toxoplasmosis. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2013; 32:13-6. [PMID: 22935868 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0b013e3182703460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between clinical signs of congenital toxoplasmosis and IgG subclasses found in newborns participating in the Minas Gerais State Neonatal Screening Program. METHODS Neonates with confirmed congenital toxoplasmosis underwent standardized ophthalmologic evaluation, neuroimaging studies and hearing assessment, as well as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay testing for total IgG and its subclasses (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4) against soluble (STAg) and recombinant (rSAG1 and rMIC3) antigens of Toxoplasma gondii. RESULTS Newborns with congenital toxoplasmosis but without ocular lesions were more likely to present anti-rMIC3 total IgG when compared with those newborns with active or cicatricial retinochoroidal lesions. Detection of anti-rMIC3 IgG2 and IgG4 was associated with presence of retinochoroidal lesions and intracranial calcifications, with higher mean reactivity index values than unaffected newborns with congenital toxoplasmosis. Anti-STAg IgG3 was associated with newborns without neurologic damage. CONCLUSIONS Specific subclasses of IgG antibodies reacting with recombinant antigens of T. gondii may serve as biomarkers of neurologic and ocular changes in newborns with congenital toxoplasmosis.
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Immune response and immunopathology during toxoplasmosis. Semin Immunopathol 2012; 34:793-813. [PMID: 22955326 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-012-0339-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 229] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2012] [Accepted: 08/21/2012] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite of medical and veterinary significance that is able to infect any warm-blooded vertebrate host. In addition to its importance to public health, several inherent features of the biology of T. gondii have made it an important model organism to study host-pathogen interactions. One factor is the genetic tractability of the parasite, which allows studies on the microbial factors that affect virulence and allows the development of tools that facilitate immune studies. Additionally, mice are natural hosts for T. gondii, and the availability of numerous reagents to study the murine immune system makes this an ideal experimental system to understand the functions of cytokines and effector mechanisms involved in immunity to intracellular microorganisms. In this article, we will review current knowledge of the innate and adaptive immune responses required for resistance to toxoplasmosis, the events that lead to the development of immunopathology, and the natural regulatory mechanisms that limit excessive inflammation during this infection.
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Induction of immune responses in sheep by vaccination with liposome-entrapped DNA complexes encoding Toxoplasma gondii MIC3 gene. Pol J Vet Sci 2012; 15:3-9. [PMID: 22708351 DOI: 10.2478/v10181-011-0107-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that has been extensively studied due to its medical and veterinary importance in terminating pregnancies. Consequently, a satisfactory vaccine is required to control its adverse effects on pregnant animals. The microneme protein, MIC3, is a major adhesion protein that binds to the surface of host cells and parasites, and is therefore a potential vaccine against T. gondii. The viability of MIC3 as a vaccine is investigated in this study. Sheep were injected twice, intramuscularly, with plasmids containing DNA encoding for the mature form of MIC3 protein formulated into liposomes. Control sheep were injected with an empty vector or received no injections. The injection of sheep with DNA plasmids encoding for MIC3 elicited an immune response after the first and second injections as indicated by antibody responses and the production of IFN-gamma. The immune response, as measured by the IgG2 and IgG1 serum levels, was boosted after the injection of the MIC3 DNA vaccine together with high anti-MIC3 antibodies. The results demonstrate that the intramuscular injection of sheep with a plasmid containing DNA coding for MIC3 protein induces a significant and effective immune response against T. gondii.
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Increased survival time in mice vaccinated with a branched lysine multiple antigenic peptide containing B- and T-cell epitopes from T. gondii antigens. Vaccine 2011; 29:8619-23. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2011] [Revised: 08/11/2011] [Accepted: 09/07/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Osunkalu VO, Akanmu SA, Ofomah NJ, Onyiaorah IV, Adediran AA, Akinde RO, Onwuezobe IA. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibody in HIV-infected patients at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. HIV AIDS (Auckl) 2011; 3:101-5. [PMID: 22096412 PMCID: PMC3218715 DOI: 10.2147/hiv.s15532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasmosis is caused by infection with a ubiquitous intracellular protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. With the advent of the HIV pandemic in Nigeria, toxoplasmic encephalitis has become one of the more frequent opportunistic infections and the most commonly implicated cause of focal brain lesions complicating the course of AIDS. OBJECTIVES This study was conducted to compare the pattern of seroprevalence of T. gondii (Toxo-IgG) antibodies among HIV-infected persons presenting with neurological complications and those without. MATERIALS AND METHODS Plasma specimens collected from 380 subjects were tested for Toxo- IgG antibodies by enzyme immunoassay technique and CD4 estimation by flow cytometry. Close-ended questionnaires were applied to all respondents to collect relevant data, with ethical approval from the hospital ethical committee. Plasma was obtained from two study groups comprising 300 HIV-positive respondents without neurological presentations, and 80 HIV-positive respondents with neurological complications. RESULTS Seroprevalence of Toxo-IgG antibodies was 58% in the HIV-positive study group without neurological complications (of these, 79.2% were males and 38.5% were females) and 40% in the study group with neurological complications (46.2% of these were males and 28.6% were females). The overall seroprevalence of Toxo-IgG antibodies among the HIV-positive respondents (with and without neurological complications) was 54.2% (206 of 380). Seroprevalence of Toxo-IgG antibodies was lowest among the educated subjects (19% of the respondents with tertiary education) and among females in both study groups. A higher proportion of the subjects with neurological complications had CD4 cell count <100 cells/μL compared with respondents without neurological defects (39% vs 22.7%; P = 0.000), but the seroprevalence of Toxo-IgG antibodies was higher in subjects without neurological complications (45% vs 31.3%; P = 0.000). CONCLUSION Toxoplasmosis, though an important opportunistic infection in our environment, may not account for the majority of neurological complications observed in patients with HIV infection in our center.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent O Osunkalu
- Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, College of Medicine Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Sulaimon A Akanmu
- Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, College of Medicine Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Nkolika J Ofomah
- Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, College of Medicine Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Igwebuike V Onyiaorah
- Department of Histopathology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Adewumi A Adediran
- Department of Haematology and Blood Transfusion, College of Medicine Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria
| | - Ralph O Akinde
- Department of Morbid Anatomy, College of Medicine Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria
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Zelkha SA, Freilich RW, Amar S. Periodontal innate immune mechanisms relevant to atherosclerosis and obesity. Periodontol 2000 2010; 54:207-21. [PMID: 20712641 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0757.2010.00358.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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GUITON R, ZAGANI R, DIMIER-POISSON I. Major role for CD8+T cells in the protection againstToxoplasma gondiifollowing dendritic cell vaccination. Parasite Immunol 2009; 31:631-40. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3024.2009.01146.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Couper KN, Lanthier PA, Perona-Wright G, Kummer LW, Chen W, Smiley ST, Mohrs M, Johnson LL. Anti-CD25 antibody-mediated depletion of effector T cell populations enhances susceptibility of mice to acute but not chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2009; 182:3985-94. [PMID: 19299696 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.0803053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Natural regulatory T cells (Tregs) constitutively express the IL-2R alpha-chain (CD25) on their surface. Consequently, administration of anti-CD25 Abs is a commonly used technique to deplete Treg populations in vivo. However, activated effector T cells may also transiently express CD25, and are thus also potential targets for anti-CD25 Abs. In this study using Toxoplasma gondii as a model proinflammatory infection, we have examined the capacity of anti-CD25 Abs to target effector T cell populations during an inflammatory episode, to determine to what extent that this action may modulate the outcome of disease. Anti-CD25 Ab-treated C57BL/6 mice displayed significantly reduced CD4(+) T cell IFN-gamma production during acute T. gondii infection and exhibited reduced weight loss and liver pathology during early acute infection; aspects of infection previously associated with effector CD4(+) T cell responses. In agreement, anti-CD25 Ab administration impaired parasite control and caused mice to succumb to infection during late acute/early chronic stages of infection with elevated tissue parasite burdens. In contrast, anti-CD25 Ab treatment of mice with established chronic infections did not markedly affect brain parasite burdens, suggesting that protective T cell populations do not express CD25 during chronic stages of T. gondii infection. In summary, we have demonstrated that anti-CD25 Abs may directly abrogate effector T cell responses during an inflammatory episode, highlighting important limitations of the use of anti-CD25 Ab administration to examine Treg function during inflammatory settings.
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Further analysis of protection induced by the MIC3 DNA vaccine against T. gondii: CD4 and CD8 T cells are the major effectors of the MIC3 DNA vaccine-induced protection, both Lectin-like and EGF-like domains of MIC3 conferred protection. Vaccine 2009; 27:2959-66. [PMID: 19428907 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.02.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2009] [Revised: 02/27/2009] [Accepted: 02/28/2009] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The present study was conducted mainly to evaluate the contribution of the cellular and the humoral responses in protection conferred by the MIC3 DNA vaccine (pMIC3i) that was proved as a potent vaccine against toxoplasmosis. We performed the adoptive transfer of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes from pMIC3i immunized mice to naive ones and the role of humoral immunity was evaluated by in vitro invasion assays. We also constructed plasmids encoding the EGF-like domains and the Lectin-like domain of MIC3, to define which domains of MIC3 are involved in the protection. Furthermore, the adjuvant effect of the GM-CSF-expressing vector (granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor) required the precise temporal and spatial codelivery of GM-CSF with antigen, thus, we constructed a bicistronic plasmid expressing MIC3 and GM-CSF. In conclusion, the protection induced by pMIC3i was mainly mediated by CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes and both EGF and Lectin domains of MIC3 conferred protection. Furthermore, the codelivery of GM-CSF by a bicistronic plasmid appeared to be a most effective way for enhancing the adjuvant properties of GM-CSF.
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Beauvillain C, Juste MO, Dion S, Pierre J, Dimier-Poisson I. Exosomes are an effective vaccine against congenital toxoplasmosis in mice. Vaccine 2009; 27:1750-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2008] [Revised: 01/02/2009] [Accepted: 01/11/2009] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Gigley JP, Fox BA, Bzik DJ. Cell-mediated immunity to Toxoplasma gondii develops primarily by local Th1 host immune responses in the absence of parasite replication. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2009; 182:1069-78. [PMID: 19124750 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.182.2.1069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
A single inoculation of mice with the live, attenuated Toxoplasma gondii uracil auxotroph strain cps1-1 induces long-lasting immunity against lethal challenge with hypervirulent strain RH. The mechanism for this robust immunity in the absence of parasite replication has not been addressed. The mechanism of long-lasting immunity, the importance of route of immunization, cellular recruitment to the site of infection, and local and systemic inflammation were evaluated. Our results show that infection with cps1-1 elicits long-lasting CD8+ T cell- mediated immunity. We show that immunization with cps1-1-infected dendritic cells elicits long-lasting immunity. Intraperitoneal infection with cps1-1 induced a rapid influx of GR1+ neutrophils and two stages of GR1+CD68+ inflammatory monocyte infiltration into the site of inoculation. CD19+ B cells and CD3+ T cells steadily increase for 8 days after infection. CD8+ T cells were rapidly recruited to the site of infection and increased faster than CD4+ T cells. Surprisingly, cps1-1 infection induced high systemic levels of bioactive IL-12p70 and a very low level and transient systemic IFN-gamma. Furthermore, we show significant levels of these inflammatory cytokines were locally produced at the site of cps1-1 inoculation. These findings offer new insight into immunological mechanisms and local host responses to a non-replicating type I parasite infection associated with development of long-lasting immunity to Toxoplasma gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason P Gigley
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA
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Sweeney E, Campbell M, Watkins K, Hunter CA, Jacenko O. Altered endochondral ossification in collagen X mouse models leads to impaired immune responses. Dev Dyn 2008; 237:2693-704. [PMID: 18629872 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.21594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Disruption of collagen X function in hypertrophic cartilage undergoing endochondral ossification was previously linked to altered hematopoiesis in collagen X transgenic (Tg) and null (KO) mice (Jacenko et al., [2002] Am J Pathol 160:2019-2034). Mice displayed altered growth plates, diminished trabecular bone, and marrow hypoplasia with an aberrant lymphocyte profile throughout life. This study identifies altered B220+, CD4+, and CD8+ lymphocyte numbers, as well as CD4+/fox3P+ T regulatory cells in the collagen X mice. Additionally, diminished in vitro splenocyte responses to mitogens and an inability of mice to survive a challenge with Toxoplasma gondii, confirm impaired immune responses. In concert, ELISA and protein arrays identify aberrant levels of inflammatory, chemo-attractant, and matrix binding cytokines in collagen X mouse sera. These data link the disruption of collagen X function in the chondro-osseous junction to an altered hematopoietic stem cell niche in the marrow, resulting in impaired immune function.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Sweeney
- Department of Animal Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-6046, USA
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Lu F, Huang S, Kasper LH. The temperature-sensitive mutants of Toxoplasma gondii and ocular toxoplasmosis. Vaccine 2008; 27:573-80. [PMID: 19026704 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.10.090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2008] [Revised: 10/23/2008] [Accepted: 10/28/2008] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The risk of blindness caused by ocular toxoplasmosis supports efforts to improve our understanding for control of this disease. In this study, the involvement of CD8(+), CD4(+), B cell, and IL-10 gene in the immune response of primary ocular infection with the temperature-sensitive mutant (ts-4) of the RH Toxoplasma gondii strain, and in the protective immunity of ocular ts-4 vaccination and challenge with RH strain was investigated in murine models utilizing inbred C57BL/6 mice-deficient in CD4(+), CD8(+), B cells (microMT), or IL-10 gene. Compared to naive mice, all WT and mutant mice had different degree of ocular pathological changes after ts-4 ocular infection, in which both CD8 KO and IL-10 KO mice showed the most severe ocular lesions. Immunized by ts-4 intracameral (i.c.) inoculation, all mutant mice had partially decreased vaccine-induced resistance associated with increased ocular parasite burdens after RH strain challenge. A significant increase of the percentages of B cells and CD8(+) T cells in the draining lymph nodes were observed in WT and IL-10 KO mice after either infection or challenge. The levels of specific anti-toxoplasma IgG in both eye fluid and serum from all the mice were significantly increased after ts-4 i.c. immunization, except microMT mice. These results suggest that the avirulent ts-4 of T. gondii inoculated intracamerally can induce both ocular pathology and ocular protective immunity; CD4(+), CD8(+), B cell, and IL-10 gene are all necessary to the vaccine-induced resistance to ocular challenge by virulent RH strain, in which CD8(+) T cells are the most important component.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangli Lu
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, PR China.
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