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Abdelbaky HH, Shimoda N, Akthar I, Nakamura S, Hasan MH, Ushio N, Miyamoto A, Nishikawa Y. In vitro regulation of gene expression of pregnancy-associated proteins and cytokines in bovine endometrial epithelial cells and bovine trophoblastic cells by infection with Neospora caninum. Parasitol Int 2024; 101:102898. [PMID: 38648880 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2024.102898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Abortion caused by the parasite Neospora caninum is an important threat to the livestock industry worldwide. Trophoblasts and caruncular cells play major roles in initiating innate immune responses and controlling parasite infection at the fetal-maternal interface. In the present study, bovine uterine epithelial cells (BUECs) and bovine trophoblastic (BT) cells treated with bovine interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), IFN-alpha (IFN-α) and IFN-tau (IFN-τ) followed by infection with N. caninum were examined by measuring the mRNA expression levels of numerous pregnancy-associated proteins and observing parasite growth to elucidate the host-parasite interaction at the uteroplacental region. N. caninum infection increased the expression of prolactin-related protein 1 (PRP1), pregnancy-associated glycoprotein 1 (PAG1), and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-8 and IL-10) in BUECs and of IL-8 in BT cells. Bovine IFN-γ inhibited IL-8 and TNF-α expression in BUECs and IL-8 in BT cells. In contrast, the expression of the interferon-stimulated gene OAS1 was significantly increased by treatment of the infected BT cells with IFN-γ. However, treatment with bovine IFNs did not inhibit N. caninum growth in either cell line. In conclusion, our results suggest that bovine IFN-γ plays a crucial role in control of pathogenesis in uterus and induction of inflammatory response in the placental region following N. caninum infection, rather than growth inhibition of the parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanan H Abdelbaky
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-Cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Naomi Shimoda
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-Cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Ihshan Akthar
- Global AgroMedicine Research Center (GAMRC), Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Shu Nakamura
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-Cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Md Hasibul Hasan
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-Cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Nanako Ushio
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-Cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Akio Miyamoto
- Global AgroMedicine Research Center (GAMRC), Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Nishikawa
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-Cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
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Abdelbaky HH, Rahman MM, Shimoda N, Chen Y, Hasan T, Ushio N, Nishikawa Y. Neospora caninum surface antigen 1 is a major determinant of the pathogenesis of neosporosis in nonpregnant and pregnant mice. Front Microbiol 2024; 14:1334447. [PMID: 38260884 PMCID: PMC10800813 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1334447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction NcSAG1 is one of most widely investigated antigens of Neospora caninum in various research fields. Such studies demonstrated the proficiency of NcSAG1 in the regulatory process of parasite adhesion and invasion of host cells. Accordingly, the contribution of NcSAG1 to the pathogenesis of neosporosis can undoubtedly be extrapolated, but direct evidence is lacking. Herein, we provide the first successful attempt at the gene disruption of NcSAG1 and novel data on the invasion and virulence potentials of N. caninum in vitro and in vivo. Methods The disruption of the NcSAG1 gene was applied using the CRISPR/Cas9 system and confirmed by PCR, western blot and indirect fluorescent antibody tests as NcSAG1 knockout parasites (NcSAG1KO). Then, we investigated the role of NcSAG1 in the growth kinetics of the parasite in vitro. Results and discussion The deletion of the NcSAG1 gene significantly decreased the infection rate and reduced the egress rate of the parasite. An in vivo study using nonpregnant female and male BALB/c mice revealed a significantly higher survival rate and lower body weight change in the group infected with the NcSAG1KO parasite than in the parental strain (Nc-1)-infected group. Regarding the vertical transmission model of BALB/c mice, the absence of the NcSAG1 gene significantly enhanced the survival of pups and greatly lowered the parasite burden in the brains of pups. In conclusion, our study suggested NcSAG1 as a key molecule in the pathogenesis of N. caninum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanan H Abdelbaky
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Md Masudur Rahman
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet, Bangladesh
| | - Naomi Shimoda
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yu Chen
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Tanjila Hasan
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Khulshi, Chattogram, Bangladesh
| | - Nanako Ushio
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Nishikawa
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
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Fernandes Fidelis C, Silva de Araújo L, Prates-Patarroyo PA, Martins-Kalks KH, Licursi de Oliveira L, Vargas Viloria MI, Tafur-Gómez GA, Patarroyo Salcedo JH. Immunisation with Neospora caninum subunits rsNcSAG4 and rsNcGRA1 (NcSAG4 and NcGRA1 epitopes construct) in BALB/c mice: the profile of the immune response and controlling the vertical transmission. Parasitol Res 2023; 123:58. [PMID: 38110570 PMCID: PMC10728228 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08020-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan protozoan that causes neosporosis, which has a high economic impact on cattle herds with no available vaccine. During infection, the secretion of dense granules and the expression of surface antigens play an important role in hosting immunomodulation. However, some epitopes of those antigens are immunogenic, and using these fractions could improve the subunit antigens in vaccine design. This study evaluates the recombinant peptides rsNcGRA1 and rsNcSAG4 derived from NcGRA1 and NcSAG4 native antigens as vaccine candidates produced by a fermentative process in the yeast culture system of Komagataella phaffii strain Km71, confirmed by colony PCR, SDS-PAGE, and western blotting. The assay was conducted in BALB/c mice using the peptides at low (25 μg) and standard (50 μg) dosages in monovalent and combined administrations at three time points with saponin as an adjuvant assessing the immunogenicity by antibodies response and cytokine production. We challenge the females after pregnancy confirmation using 2 × 105 NC-1 tachyzoites previously propagated in Vero cells. We assessed the chronic infection in dams and vertical transmission in the offspring by PCR and histopathology. Mice, especially those immunised with combined peptides and monovalent rsNcGRA1 at a standard dose, controlling the chronic infection in dams with the absence of clinical manifestations, showed an immune response with induction of IgG1, a proper balance between Th1/Th2 cytokines and reduced vertical transmission in the pups. In contrast, dams inoculated with a placebo vaccine showed clinical signs, low-scored brain lesions, augmented chronic infection with 80% positivity, 31% mortality in pups, and 81% vertical transmission. These findings indicate that rsNcGRA1 peptides in monovalent and combined with rsNCSAG4 at standard dose are potential vaccine candidates and improve the protective immune response against neosporosis in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cintia Fernandes Fidelis
- Laboratório de Biologia e Controle de Hematozoários e Vetores, Departamento de Veterinária, Instituto de Biotecnologia Aplicada à Agropecuária - BIOAGRO, Universidade Federal de Viçosa - UFV, CEP, Viçosa, MG, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Leandro Silva de Araújo
- Laboratório de Biologia e Controle de Hematozoários e Vetores, Departamento de Veterinária, Instituto de Biotecnologia Aplicada à Agropecuária - BIOAGRO, Universidade Federal de Viçosa - UFV, CEP, Viçosa, MG, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Pablo A Prates-Patarroyo
- Laboratório de Biologia e Controle de Hematozoários e Vetores, Departamento de Veterinária, Instituto de Biotecnologia Aplicada à Agropecuária - BIOAGRO, Universidade Federal de Viçosa - UFV, CEP, Viçosa, MG, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Karlos H Martins-Kalks
- Laboratório de Biologia e Controle de Hematozoários e Vetores, Departamento de Veterinária, Instituto de Biotecnologia Aplicada à Agropecuária - BIOAGRO, Universidade Federal de Viçosa - UFV, CEP, Viçosa, MG, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Leandro Licursi de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Imunoquímica e Glicobiologia, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa - UFV, CEP, Viçosa, MG, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Marlene Isabel Vargas Viloria
- Laboratório de Biologia e Controle de Hematozoários e Vetores, Departamento de Veterinária, Instituto de Biotecnologia Aplicada à Agropecuária - BIOAGRO, Universidade Federal de Viçosa - UFV, CEP, Viçosa, MG, 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Gabriel A Tafur-Gómez
- Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales - U.D.C.A, Bogotá, 111166, Colombia.
| | - Joaquín Hernán Patarroyo Salcedo
- Laboratório de Biologia e Controle de Hematozoários e Vetores, Departamento de Veterinária, Instituto de Biotecnologia Aplicada à Agropecuária - BIOAGRO, Universidade Federal de Viçosa - UFV, CEP, Viçosa, MG, 36570-900, Brazil.
- Patsos Biotecnologia, Parque tecnológico de Viçosa, CEP, Viçosa, MG, 36570-900, Brazil.
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Sun Z, Li X, Zhang X, Wang Y, Gong P, Zhang N, Zhang X, Wang X, Li J. Unfolded protein response is involved in resistance to Neospora caninum infection via IRE1α-XBP1s-NOD2 Axis. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:2023-2036. [PMID: 37349656 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-07902-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Neospora caninum, an intracellular protozoan parasite, causes neosporosis resulting in major losses in the livestock industry worldwide. However, no effective drugs or vaccines have been developed to control neosporosis. An in-depth study on the immune response against N. caninum could help to search for effective approaches to prevent and treat neosporosis. The host unfolded protein response (UPR) functions as a double-edged sword in several protozoan parasite infections, either to initiate immune responses or to help parasite survival. In this study, the roles of the UPR in N. caninum infection in vitro and in vivo were explored, and the mechanism of the UPR in resistance to N. caninum infection was analyzed. The results revealed that N. caninum triggered the UPR in mouse macrophages, such as the activation of the IRE1 and PERK branches, but not the ATF6 branch. Inhibition of the IRE1α-XBP1s branch increased the N. caninum number both in vitro and in vivo, while inhibition of the PERK branch did not affect the parasite number. Furthermore, inhibition of the IRE1α-XBP1s branch reduced the production of cytokines by inhibiting NOD2 signalling and its downstream NF-κB and MAPK pathways. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that the UPR is involved in the resistance of N. caninum infection via the IRE1α-XBP1s branch by regulating NOD2 and its downstream NF-κB and MAPK pathways to induce the production of inflammatory cytokines, which provides a new perspective for the research and development of anti-N. caninum drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhichao Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Xin Li
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Xu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Yuru Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Pengtao Gong
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Xichen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Xiaocen Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China.
| | - Jianhua Li
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China.
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Chen JM, Zhao SS, Tao DL, Li JY, Yang X, Fan YY, Song JK, Liu Q, Zhao GH. Temporal transcriptomic changes in microRNAs involved in the host immune response and metabolism during Neospora caninum infection. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:28. [PMID: 36694228 PMCID: PMC9872418 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05665-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neospora caninum infection is a major cause of abortion in cattle, which results in serious economic losses to the cattle industry. However, there are no effective drugs or vaccines for the control of N. caninum infections. There is increasing evidence that microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in many physiological and pathological processes, and dysregulated expression of host miRNAs and the biological implications of this have been reported for infections by various protozoan parasites. However, to our knowledge, there is presently no published information on host miRNA expression during N. caninum infection. METHODS The expression profiles of miRNAs were investigated by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) in caprine endometrial epithelial cells (EECs) infected with N. caninum at 24 h post infection (pi) and 48 hpi, and the functions of differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were predicted by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. The transcriptome data were validated by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. One of the upregulated DEmiRNAs, namely chi-miR-146a, was selected to study the effect of DEmiRNAs on the propagation of N. caninum tachyzoites in caprine EECs. RESULTS RNA-seq showed 18 (17 up- and one downregulated) and 79 (54 up- and 25 downregulated) DEmiRNAs at 24 hpi and 48 hpi, respectively. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis of 13 randomly selected DEmiRNAs (10 up- and three downregulated miRNAs) confirmed the validity of the RNA-seq data. A total of 7835 messenger RNAs were predicted to be potential targets for 66 DEmiRNAs, and GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of these predicted targets revealed that DEmiRNAs altered by N. caninum infection may be involved in host immune responses (e.g. Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytosis, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, transforming growth factor-β signaling pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway) and metabolic pathways (e.g. lysine degradation, insulin signaling pathway, AMP-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, Rap1 signaling pathway, calcium signaling pathway). Upregulated chi-miR-146a was found to promote N. caninum propagation in caprine EECs. CONCLUSIONS This is, to our knowledge, the first report on the expression profiles of host miRNAs during infection with N. caninum, and shows that chi-miR-146a may promote N. caninum propagation in host cells. The novel findings of the present study should help to elucidate the interactions between host cells and N. caninum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Ming Chen
- grid.144022.10000 0004 1760 4150Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
| | - Shan-Shan Zhao
- grid.144022.10000 0004 1760 4150Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
| | - De-Liang Tao
- grid.144022.10000 0004 1760 4150Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
| | - Jing-Yu Li
- grid.144022.10000 0004 1760 4150Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
| | - Xin Yang
- grid.144022.10000 0004 1760 4150Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
| | - Ying-Ying Fan
- grid.144022.10000 0004 1760 4150Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
| | - Jun-Ke Song
- grid.144022.10000 0004 1760 4150Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
| | - Qun Liu
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Guang-Hui Zhao
- grid.144022.10000 0004 1760 4150Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
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Abdelbaky HH, Mitsuhashi S, Watanabe K, Ushio N, Miyakawa M, Furuoka H, Nishikawa Y. Involvement of chemokine receptor CXCR3 in the defense mechanism against Neospora caninum infection in C57BL/6 mice. Front Microbiol 2023; 13:1045106. [PMID: 36704563 PMCID: PMC9873264 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1045106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 3 (CXCR3) is an important receptor controlling the migration of leukocytes, although there is no report regarding its role in Neospora caninum infection. Herein, we investigated the relevance of CXCR3 in the resistance mechanism to N. caninum infection in mice. Wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice and CXCR3-knockout (CXCR3KO) mice were used in all experiments. WT mice displayed a high survival rate (100%), while 80% of CXCR3KO mice succumbed to N. caninum infection within 50 days. Compared with WT mice, CXCR3KO mice exhibited significantly lower body weights and higher clinical scores at the subacute stage of infection. Flow cytometric analysis revealed CXCR3KO mice as having significantly increased proportions and numbers of CD11c-positive cells compared with WT mice at 5 days post infection (dpi). However, levels of interleukin-6 and interferon-γ in serum and ascites were similar in all groups at 5 dpi. Furthermore, no differences in parasite load were detected in brain, spleen, lungs or liver tissue of CXCR3KO and WT mice at 5 and 21 dpi. mRNA analysis of brain tissue collected from infected mice at 30 dpi revealed no changes in expression levels of inflammatory response genes. Nevertheless, the brain tissue of infected CXCR3KO mice displayed significant necrosis and microglial activation compared with that of WT mice at 21 dpi. Interestingly, the brain tissue of CXCR3KO mice displayed significantly lower numbers of FoxP3+ cells compared with the brain tissue of WT mice at 30 dpi. Accordingly, our study suggests that the lack of active regulatory T cells in brain tissue of infected CXCR3KO mice is the main cause of these mice having severe necrosis and lower survival compared with WT mice. Thus, CXCR3+ regulatory T cells may play a crucial role in control of neosporosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanan H. Abdelbaky
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Shuichiro Mitsuhashi
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Kenichi Watanabe
- Division of Pathobiological Science, Department of Basic Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Nanako Ushio
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Miku Miyakawa
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Hidefumi Furuoka
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Nishikawa
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan,*Correspondence: Yoshifumi Nishikawa, ✉
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Fereig RM, Omar MA, Alsayeqh AF. Exploiting the Macrophage Production of IL-12 in Improvement of Vaccine Development against Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum Infections. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10122082. [PMID: 36560492 PMCID: PMC9783364 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10122082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis and neosporosis are major protozoan diseases of global distribution. Toxoplasma gondii is the cause of toxoplasmosis, which affects almost all warm-blooded animals, including humans, while Neospora caninum induces neosporosis in many animal species, especially cattle. The current defective situation with control measures is hindering all efforts to overcome the health hazards and economic losses of toxoplasmosis and neosporosis. Adequate understanding of host-parasite interactions and host strategies to combat such infections can be exploited in establishing potent control measures, including vaccine development. Macrophages are the first defense line of innate immunity, which is responsible for the successful elimination of T.gondii or N. caninum. This action is exerted via the immunoregulatory interleukin-12 (IL-12), which orchestrates the production of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) from various immune cells. Cellular immune response and IFN-γ production is the hallmark for successful vaccine candidates against both T. gondii and N. caninum. However, the discovery of potential vaccine candidates is a highly laborious, time-consuming and expensive procedure. In this review, we will try to exploit previous knowledge and our research experience to establish an efficient immunological approach for exploring potential vaccine candidates against T. gondii and N. caninum. Our previous studies on vaccine development against both T. gondii and N. caninum revealed a strong association between the successful and potential vaccine antigens and their ability to promote the macrophage secretion of IL-12 using a murine model. This phenomenon was emphasized using different recombinant antigens, parasites, and experimental approaches. Upon these data and research trials, IL-12 production from murine macrophages can be used as an initial predictor for judgment of vaccine efficacy before further evaluation in time-consuming and laborious in vivo experiments. However, more studies and research are required to conceptualize this immunological approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ragab M. Fereig
- Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena 83523, Egypt
- Correspondence: (R.M.F.); (A.F.A.)
| | - Mosaab A. Omar
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena 83523, Egypt
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah 51452, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah F. Alsayeqh
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Buraidah 51452, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence: (R.M.F.); (A.F.A.)
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Tao DL, Zhao SS, Chen JM, Chen X, Yang X, Song JK, Liu Q, Zhao GH. Neospora caninum infection induced mitochondrial dysfunction in caprine endometrial epithelial cells via downregulating SIRT1. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:274. [PMID: 35915458 PMCID: PMC9344697 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05406-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Infection of Neospora caninum, an important obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, causes reproductive dysfunctions (e.g. abortions) in ruminants (e.g. cattle, sheep and goats), leading to serious economic losses of livestock worldwide, but the pathogenic mechanisms of N. caninum are poorly understood. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been reported to be closely associated with pathogenesis of many infectious diseases. However, the effect of N. caninum infection on the mitochondrial function of hosts remains unclear. Methods The effects of N. caninum infection on mitochondrial dysfunction in caprine endometrial epithelial cells (EECs), including intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), adenosine triphosphate (ATP) contents, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy numbers and ultrastructure of mitochondria, were studied by using JC-1, DCFH-DA, ATP assay kits, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and transmission electron microscopy, respectively, and the regulatory roles of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) on mitochondrial dysfunction, autophagy and N. caninum propagation in caprine EECs were investigated by using two drugs, namely resveratrol (an activator of SIRT1) and Ex 527 (an inhibitor of SIRT1). Results The current study found that N. caninum infection induced mitochondrial dysfunction of caprine EECs, including accumulation of intracellular ROS, significant reductions of MMP, ATP contents, mtDNA copy numbers and damaged ultrastructure of mitochondria. Downregulated expression of SIRT1 was also detected in caprine EECs infected with N. caninum. Treatments using resveratrol and Ex 527 to caprine EECs showed that dysregulation of SIRT1 significantly reversed mitochondrial dysfunction of cells caused by N. caninum infection. Furthermore, using resveratrol and Ex 527, SIRT1 expression was found to be negatively associated with autophagy induced by N. caninum infection in caprine EECs, and the intracellular propagation of N. caninum tachyzoites in caprine EECs was negatively affected by SIRT1 expression. Conclusions These results indicated that N. caninum infection induced mitochondrial dysfunction by downregulating SIRT1, and downregulation of SIRT1 promoted cell autophagy and intracellular proliferation of N. caninum tachyzoites in caprine EECs. The findings suggested a potential role of SIRT1 as a target to develop control strategies against N. caninum infection. Graphical abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05406-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- De-Liang Tao
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Shan-Shan Zhao
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Jin-Ming Chen
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Xin Yang
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Jun-Ke Song
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Qun Liu
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
| | - Guang-Hui Zhao
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, China.
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9
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Rodrigues AA, Brito DRB, Kono IS, Reis SS, Nino BDSL, Nascimento TVC, Barros LDD, Garcia JL, Cunha IALD. Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum and risk factors associated with infection in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) from Maranhão State, Brazil. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2022; 27:100661. [PMID: 35012718 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2021.100661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this work was to determine the seroprevalence of Neospora caninum in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) from Maranhão State, Brazil, and identify risk factors associated with infection. In total, 338 buffaloes of different ages and both sexes from four farms were randomly selected. Information about the study region, animals and management was collected using an epidemiological questionnaire. Sera were subjected to an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) to detect anti-N caninum antibodies, while N. caninum DNA was detected using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. The overall seroprevalence of N. caninum in buffaloes was 27.5% (93/338), while DNA was detected in 3.0% (3/101) samples. The proportion of positive animals detected by IFAT and PCR simultaneously was 2.6% (2/77). The risk factors for N. caninum infection were contact with fomites (p = 0.022), management conditions (p = 0.005), calving interval of 20 months (p = 0.010) and deworming management (application 3 times a year in adults and calves, p = 0.020; change of anthelmintic group, p = 0.040). By multivariate analysis, management conditions was a risk factor for N. caninum infection with odds ratio of 2.2 (95% CI 1.0-4.6). This is the first report of the prevalence and risk factors for neosporosis in B. bubalis of Maranhão State, Brazil. Thus, N. caninum is widely distributed in buffalo herds in Maranhão, with management conditions being a risk factor for infection. Further studies should be conducted to elucidate the importance of buffaloes in the epidemiology of neosporosis in Maranhão State.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arlan Araujo Rodrigues
- Applied Parasitology Laboratory, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão, MA-230, KM 04, s/n° - Boa Vista, 65500-000 Chapadinha, Maranhão, Brazil
| | - Danilo Rodrigues Barros Brito
- Laboratory of Animal Health, Federal Institute of Maranhão, Campus São Luís-Maracanã, Avenida dos Curiós, s/n° - Vila Esperança, 65095-460 São Luis, Maranhão, Brazil
| | - Isabelli Sayuri Kono
- Laboratory of Animal Protozoology, Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, State University of Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, Jardim Portal de Versalhes 1, 86057-970 Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Sara Silva Reis
- Applied Parasitology Laboratory, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão, MA-230, KM 04, s/n° - Boa Vista, 65500-000 Chapadinha, Maranhão, Brazil
| | - Beatriz de Souza Lima Nino
- Laboratory of Animal Protozoology, Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, State University of Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, Jardim Portal de Versalhes 1, 86057-970 Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Thiago Vinícius Costa Nascimento
- Applied Parasitology Laboratory, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão, MA-230, KM 04, s/n° - Boa Vista, 65500-000 Chapadinha, Maranhão, Brazil
| | - Luiz Daniel de Barros
- Laboratory of Animal Protozoology, Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, State University of Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, Jardim Portal de Versalhes 1, 86057-970 Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - João Luis Garcia
- Laboratory of Animal Protozoology, Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, State University of Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, Jardim Portal de Versalhes 1, 86057-970 Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Ivo Alexandre Leme da Cunha
- Applied Parasitology Laboratory, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão, MA-230, KM 04, s/n° - Boa Vista, 65500-000 Chapadinha, Maranhão, Brazil.
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10
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Fereig RM, Nishikawa Y. Macrophage Stimulation as a Useful Approach for Immunoscreening of Potential Vaccine Candidates Against Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum Infections. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2411:129-144. [PMID: 34816403 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1888-2_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis and neosporosis are protozoan diseases that adversely affect the medical and additionally veterinary sectors, respectively. Toxoplasmosis is caused by Toxoplasma gondii which infects almost all warm-blooded animals including humans. While, neosporosis is caused by Neospora caninum, which induces infection in many animal species particularly in cattle. Currently, control measures for both infections are defective because of no effective vaccine or treatment. Macrophages constitute the first line of innate immunity, which contributes to the effective elimination of T. gondii or N. caninum. This action is mediated by IL-12, which is critical for the secretion of interferon gamma (IFN-γ). Successful vaccine candidates against both protozoan parasites should possess the ability to induce the cellular immune response and IFN-γ production. In this chapter, we will focus on an efficient immunological approach for discovery of potential vaccine candidates against above-mentioned parasites. Our previous studies revealed a strong correlation between vaccine antigens that enhanced the macrophage secretion of IL-12 and their efficacy as potential vaccine candidates in murine model. In case of T. gondii, peroxiredoxin 1 (TgPrx1) and peroxiredoxin 3 stimulated the production of IL-12 from murine peritoneal macrophages and conferred strong to moderate protection in C57BL/6 mice, respectively. At the same context, Neospora antigens of dense granule protein 6 (NcGRA6) and cyclophilin entrapped with oligo-mannose coated-liposomes stimulated macrophage IL-12 secretion and substantially protected immunized BALB/c mice. Therefore, we can deduce that macrophage stimulation evidenced in IL-12 production can be used as a useful approach for judgment of vaccine efficacy before further evaluation using in vivo experiments. Methods of vaccine preparation and macrophage stimulation will be fully described for TgPrx1 and NcGRA6 as potential vaccine candidates against toxoplasmosis and neosporosis, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ragab M Fereig
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
- Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
| | - Yoshifumi Nishikawa
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan.
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11
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Novoa MB, Sarli M, Reidel IG, Veaute C, Valentini B, Primo ME. Neospora caninum truncated recombinant proteins formulated with liposomes and CpG-ODNs triggered a humoral immune response in cattle after immunisation and challenge. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2021; 238:110285. [PMID: 34146834 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2021.110285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Abortions caused by Neospora caninum are a serious problem in cattle production and require effective immunoprophylaxis. The objective of this work was to assess the humoral immune response to four recombinant (r) N. caninum antigens in cattle after immunisation and challenge. MIC1 and MIC3 proteins from the micronemes, SRS2 from the surface of tachyzoites, and GRA7 from the dense granules were expressed as truncated recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli. Cationic liposomes (Lip) and CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODNs) were used as adjuvant. Steers were assigned to three groups of six steers each and were inoculated twice subcutaneously, 21 days apart. The rP + Lip + CpG-ODN group received the truncated recombinant proteins rMIC1, rMIC3, rSRS2 and rGRA7 formulated with the adjuvant; the Lip + CpG-ODN group received the adjuvant alone; and the PBS group received sterile phosphate-buffered saline. All steers were subcutaneously challenged with the NC-1 strain of N. caninum 35 days after the second dose of immunisation. Steers from the rP + Lip + CpG-ODN group developed specific IgG, IgG1 and IgG2 against the four recombinant proteins after immunisation. After challenge, IgG against rMIC1 and rMIC3 was detected in rP + Lip + CpG-ODN group and against rSRS2 and rGRA7 in all groups. IgG1 and IgG2 against the four recombinant proteins remained high after challenge in the rP + Lip + CpG-ODN group. Indirect ELISA detected anti-N. caninum antibodies after challenge in all groups, with the highest level of antibodies being detected in the rP + Lip + CpG-ODN group. The recombinant vaccine formulated with rMIC1, rMIC3, rSRS2 and rGRA7 using Lip + CpG-ODN as adjuvant was immunogenic in cattle and the humoral immune response after challenge was enhanced in vaccinated cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Belén Novoa
- Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea (INTA-CONICET), Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, Route 34, km 227, 2300, Rafaela, Argentina.
| | - Macarena Sarli
- Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea (INTA-CONICET), Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, Route 34, km 227, 2300, Rafaela, Argentina
| | - Ivana Gabriela Reidel
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria, S3000ZAA, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Carolina Veaute
- Laboratorio de Inmunología Experimental, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria, S3000ZAA, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Beatriz Valentini
- Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea (INTA-CONICET), Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, Route 34, km 227, 2300, Rafaela, Argentina
| | - María Evangelina Primo
- Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea (INTA-CONICET), Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, Route 34, km 227, 2300, Rafaela, Argentina
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12
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Yu G, Liang W, Yang Q, Wang J, Wang Y, Zhang T, Zhang X, Fan H, Zhao P, Cao L, Dong J. Immune Protective Evaluation Elicited by DNA Vaccination With Neospora caninum Dense Granules Proteins in Mice. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:638067. [PMID: 33718474 PMCID: PMC7953147 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.638067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neospora caninum, an obligate intracellular protozoan, is the major cause for neosporosis and brings serious economic losses to cattle breeding industries worldwide. After invasion, dense granules proteins are abundantly secreted and being important components of parasitophorous vacuole and intravacuolar network where N. caninum survives and replicates. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective immunity induced by DNA vaccines with genes encoding dense granules proteins 1 (GRA1), GRA4, GRA9, GRA14, GRA17, and GRA23 against N. caninum tachyzoites in BALB/C mice. Eukaryotic expressing plasmids of pcNcGRAs were constructed and the mice were intramuscularly immunized with pcNcGRAs followed by challenging infection with lethal doses of N. caninum. Immune responses were evaluated through monitoring the levels of serum antibodies, measurement of lymphocyte proliferation, and secretion of cytokines. Immune protection assays were carried out through monitoring survival time, body weight, and parasite burden in the brains. Results showed that all the pcNcGRA DNA vaccines could trigger remarkably specific humoral and cellular responses, with higher levels of IgG and IgG2a antibodies as well as obviously increased secretion of Th1-type IFN-γ cytokines. The immune protective efficacy revealed that pcNcGRA4, pcNcGRA14, and pcNcGRA17 DNA vaccines could individually increase the survival rate to 50, 37.5, and 25% in comparison with 0% in the control group; prolong the survival time more than 20.88 ± 11.12, 18.88 ± 10.83, and 16.63 ± 10.66 days compared with the control group of 4 ± 1.31 days; and decrease parasite burden in the brains to 297.63 ± 83.77, 471.5 ± 110.74, and 592.13 ± 102.2 parasites/100 ng comparing with 1221.36 ± 269.59 parasites/100 ng in the control group. These findings indicated that NcGRA4, NcGRA14, and NcGRA17 are potential vaccine candidates; NcGRA4 displayed better performance in immune protective efficacy and could be further combined with other advantageous antigens applied to the development of safe and effective DNA vaccines against N. caninum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guili Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Biological Resources and Environment, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Pharmaceutical Compound Screening, Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, China
| | - Wei Liang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, the Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang City, Lianyungang, China
| | - Qiankun Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Biological Resources and Environment, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Pharmaceutical Compound Screening, Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, China
| | - Jinxin Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Biological Resources and Environment, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Pharmaceutical Compound Screening, Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Biological Resources and Environment, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Pharmaceutical Compound Screening, Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, China
| | - Tianmeng Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Biological Resources and Environment, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Pharmaceutical Compound Screening, Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, China
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Biological Resources and Environment, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Pharmaceutical Compound Screening, Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, China
| | - Hui Fan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Biological Resources and Environment, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Pharmaceutical Compound Screening, Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, China
| | - Panpan Zhao
- Department of Parasite, Jilin Academy of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Changchun, China.,Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Lili Cao
- Department of Parasite, Jilin Academy of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Changchun, China.,Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Ministry of Education, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jingquan Dong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Biological Resources and Environment, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Marine Pharmaceutical Compound Screening, Co-Innovation Center of Jiangsu Marine Bio-industry Technology, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang, China
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13
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Fereig RM, Abdelbaky HH, Nishikawa Y. Vaccination with Neospora GRA6 Interrupts the Vertical Transmission and Partially Protects Dams and Offspring against Neospora caninum Infection in Mice. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9020155. [PMID: 33671937 PMCID: PMC7919036 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9020155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccination is the mainstay of preventative measures for numerous infectious diseases. Neospora caninum infection induces storms of abortion in pregnant cows and ewes, resulting in drastic economic losses because of fetal losses and culling of the dams. Herein, we evaluated the potential of recombinant protein of N. caninum dense granule protein 6 fused with glutathione-S-transferase (NcGRA6+GST) as a vaccine candidate against neosporosis in a pregnant mouse model. The protective efficacy was investigated by subcutaneous inoculation of BALB/c mice with recombinant NcGRA6+GST (25 pmol), and GST alone (25 pmol) or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) as the controls. This study revealed the partial ability of NcGRA6+GST to protect the dams and offspring from N. caninum infection during the critical period of pregnancy. This ability was revealed by higher survival rate and lower parasite burden in brains of offspring of the NcGRA6+GST-immunized group in comparison with the control groups. In addition, mouse dams from NcGRA6+GST-immunized groups exhibited lower clinical score and minimum alteration in body weight in comparison with PBS or GST groups after challenge with N. caninum tachyzoites. Taken together, our results suggest the efficacy of recombinant NcGRA6 for interrupting the vertical transmission of N. caninum in mice by reducing the severity of infections in dams and offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ragab M. Fereig
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan; (R.M.F.); (H.H.A.)
- Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena City, Qena 83523, Egypt
| | - Hanan H. Abdelbaky
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan; (R.M.F.); (H.H.A.)
| | - Yoshifumi Nishikawa
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan; (R.M.F.); (H.H.A.)
- Correspondence:
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14
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Amini L, Namavari M, Khodakaram-Tafti A, Divar MR, Hosseini SMH. The evaluation of attenuated Neospora caninum by long-term passages on murine macrophage cell line in prevention of vertical transmission in mice. Vet Parasitol 2020; 283:109171. [PMID: 32623187 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Revised: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
To date, there is no effective vaccine to prevent abortion or vertical transmission associated with neosporosis in cattle. In the present study, the efficacy of a live experimental vaccine of Neospora caninum attenuated (NCa) by long-term serial passages on a murine macrophage cell line was evaluated in the prevention of vertical transmission and abortion in the mouse model. Forty non-pregnant mice were randomly divided into four equal groups including non-immunized/challenged (injected with PBS); positive control (inoculated with un-attenuated NC-1 tachyzoites); immunized/challenged (inoculated with NCa attenuated strain) and immunized/non-challenged or vaccinated (inoculated with NCa) groups. Following pregnancy synchronization, both the immunized and control mice were challenged with virulent live NC-1 tachyzoites (2.5 × 106) in the mid-pregnancy stage. The number of abortions and post-natal pup mortalities was recorded. Serological, molecular, and histopathologic examinations were employed to evaluate the efficacy of the vaccine and the vertical transmission rates. Results indicated that the live attenuated N. caninum strain (NCa) could significantly reduce the risk of abnormal parturitions and fetal mortality in the vaccinated group (20 %) compared to the non-immunized/challenged group (80 %). Also, the NCa strain reduced the lesion score in the brain of the offspring (0.3 vs 1.9) compared to the non-immunized/challenged group (P < 0.05). The molecular assay showed a decrease in the parasite DNA detection rates from 83 % and 77 % in the non-immunized/challenged group to 27 % and 0 % in the vaccine group in the brain and liver tissues, respectively. While in the immunized/non-challenged group no parasite DNA was detected in the brain tissue samples of the pups. Serological analyses showed that NCa strain was able to stimulate the humoral immunity and create effective protection against neosporosis with a moderate systemic IFN-γ response. In conclusion, the NCa strain could significantly (P < 0.05) reduce the risk of vertical transmission and proved to be a safe vaccine while conferring significant levels of protection in the laboratory mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laleh Amini
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mehdi Namavari
- Shiraz Branch, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Shiraz, Iran.
| | | | - Mohammad Reza Divar
- Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Seyed Mohammad Hossein Hosseini
- Shiraz Branch, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Shiraz, Iran
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Fereig RM, Nishikawa Y. From Signaling Pathways to Distinct Immune Responses: Key Factors for Establishing or Combating Neospora caninum Infection in Different Susceptible Hosts. Pathogens 2020; 9:E384. [PMID: 32429367 PMCID: PMC7281608 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9050384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
: Neospora caninum is an intracellular protozoan parasite affecting numerous animal species. It induces significant economic losses because of abortion and neonatal abnormalities in cattle. In case of infection, the parasite secretes numerous arsenals to establish a successful infection in the host cell. In the same context but for a different purpose, the host resorts to different strategies to eliminate the invading parasite. During this battle, numerous key factors from both parasite and host sides are produced and interact for the maintaining and vanishing of the infection, respectively. Although several reviews have highlighted the role of different compartments of the immune system against N. caninum infection, each one of them has mostly targeted specific points related to the immune component and animal host. Thus, in the current review, we will focus on effector molecules derived from the host cell or the parasite using a comprehensive survey method from previous reports. According to our knowledge, this is the first review that highlights and discusses immune response at the host cell-parasite molecular interface against N. caninum infection in different susceptible hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ragab M. Fereig
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan;
- Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena City, Qena 83523, Egypt
| | - Yoshifumi Nishikawa
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan;
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Abdelbaky HH, Nishimura M, Shimoda N, Hiasa J, Fereig RM, Tokimitsu H, Inokuma H, Nishikawa Y. Evaluation of Neospora caninum serodiagnostic antigens for bovine neosporosis. Parasitol Int 2019; 75:102045. [PMID: 31881363 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2019.102045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/22/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Abortion and reproductive failure caused by Neospora caninum infection has a dramatic negative economic impact on the cattle industry. To date, no definitive serodiagnostic tool for assessing N. caninum abortion has been reported. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of numerous N. caninum antigens in relation to abortion in cattle. Five recombinant proteins with potential as diagnostic antigens (NcGRA6, NcGRA7, NcGRA14, NcCyP, and NcSAG1) were compared by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA) using sera from mice and cattle experimentally infected with N. caninum. The best-performing three antigens (NcSAG1, NcGRA7, and NcGRA6) were evaluated by IgG-iELISAs to assess their utility in diagnosing Neospora abortion using sera from confirmed N. caninum-aborted dams based on immunohistochemical assays (IHC). Additionally, all samples were tested using a commercial N. caninum antibody competitive ELISA (cELISA). The iELISAs against both NcSAG1 and NcGRA7 could efficiently distinguish IHC positive and negative samples compared with iELISAs against NcGRA6 and the cELISA. Furthermore, antibody levels against NcSAG1 and NcGRA7 were significantly higher in aborting cows comparing with infected but non-aborted dams in a herd experiencing a Neospora abortion outbreak. Tracking the dynamics of antibody levels during pregnancy revealed a marked increase in NcSAG1- and NcGRA7-specific antibodies at the last trimester of pregnancy. In contrast, no marked differences in antibody levels against either antigen were noted in neurologically symptomatic calves compared with non-symptomatic infected calves. Our data suggests NcSAG1 and NcGRA7 as indicators for Neospora abortion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanan H Abdelbaky
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Maki Nishimura
- Shihoro Agricultural Cooperative Association, Hokkaido 080-1200, Japan
| | - Naomi Shimoda
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Jun Hiasa
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan; Shihoro Agricultural Cooperative Association, Hokkaido 080-1200, Japan
| | - Ragab M Fereig
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan; Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena 83523, Egypt
| | - Hiromi Tokimitsu
- Shihoro Agricultural Cooperative Association, Hokkaido 080-1200, Japan
| | - Hisashi Inokuma
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Nishikawa
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
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17
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Xu J, Hiramatsu R, Suhaimi H, Kato T, Fujimoto A, Tokiwa T, Ike K, Park EY. Neospora caninum antigens displaying virus-like particles as a bivalent vaccine candidate against neosporosis. Vaccine 2019; 37:6426-6434. [PMID: 31515150 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Neospora caninum is a causative and transmissible agent of dog and bovine neosporosis. The resulting reproductive failures in infected cattle lead to significant economic losses worldwide. However, there is no satisfactory treatment or vaccine currently available to combat this pathogen. Thus, the development of appropriate vaccines to manage its infection and transmission is urgently needed. In this study, we expressed Rous sarcoma virus-like particles (RSV-LP) that displayed dual N. caninum antigens in silkworms. The antigen candidates are modified by adding a transmembrane domain of GP64 protein from Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) to the C-terminus of surface antigen 1 (NcSAG1) and SAG1-related sequence 2 (NcSRS2). The NcSRS2 alone or the NcSAG1/NcSRS2 bivalent form displaying RSV-LPs were purified using sucrose density gradient centrifugation. These purified VLPs were then used for immunizations in gerbils, Meriones unguiculatus, to evaluate the anti-N. caninum effects in vivo. The results demonstrated that antigens displaying RSV-LPs in immunized gerbils produced the antigen-specific antibody, leading to a relatively lower parasite load after infections of N. caninum. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to present an RSV-LP vaccine displaying bivalent antigens from neosporosis. Taken together, our strategy suggests that silkworm-expressed virus-like particles (VLPs) are promising bivalent vaccine candidates against N. caninum infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Xu
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, Research Institute of Green Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan.
| | - Rikito Hiramatsu
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Integrated Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan.
| | - Hamizah Suhaimi
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan.
| | - Tatsuya Kato
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, Research Institute of Green Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan; Laboratory of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Integrated Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan; Laboratory of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan.
| | - Akari Fujimoto
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, Nippon Veterinary and Life University, Musashino, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Tokiwa
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, Nippon Veterinary and Life University, Musashino, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan.
| | - Kazunori Ike
- Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology, Nippon Veterinary and Life University, Musashino, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan.
| | - Enoch Y Park
- Laboratory of Biotechnology, Research Institute of Green Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan; Laboratory of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Integrated Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan; Laboratory of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan.
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18
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Fereig RM, Shimoda N, Abdelbaky HH, Kuroda Y, Nishikawa Y. Neospora GRA6 possesses immune-stimulating activity and confers efficient protection against Neospora caninum infection in mice. Vet Parasitol 2019; 267:61-68. [PMID: 30878088 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2019.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/09/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Vaccination has the potential to be the most cost-effective control measure for reducing the economic burden of neosporosis in cattle. In this study, the immune-stimulatory effect of recombinant Neospora caninum dense granule protein 6 (NcGRA6) was confirmed via its triggering of IL-12p40 production in murine macrophages. BALB/c mice were immunized with recombinant NcGRA6 fused with glutathione S-transferase (GST) protein with or without oligomannose-coated-liposomes (OMLs) as the potential adjuvant. Specific IgG1 antibody production was observed from 21 and 35 days after the first immunization in NcGRA6+GST- and NcGRA6+GST-OML-immunized mice, respectively. However, specific IgG2a was detected 1 week after the infection, and IgG2a levels of the NcGRA6+GST- group were higher than those of the NcGRA6+GST-OML-group. Moreover, spleen cell proliferation with concomitant interferon-gamma production was detected in mice immunized with NcGRA6+GST, indicating that a significant cellular immune response was induced. Mouse survival rates against N. caninum challenge infection were 91.7% for NcGRA6+GST and 83.3% for NcGRA6+GST-OML, which were significantly higher than those of control groups (GST-OML: 25%, phosphate-buffered saline: 16.7%). This indicates that naked NcGRA6+GST induced protective immunity. Thus, our findings highlight the immune-stimulating potential of NcGRA6 and the ability to induce protective immunity against N. caninum infection in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ragab M Fereig
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan; Research Center for Global Agromedicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan; Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena City, Qena 83523, Egypt
| | - Naomi Shimoda
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Hanan H Abdelbaky
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Kuroda
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Tokai University, Kita-kaname, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1292, Japan
| | - Yoshifumi Nishikawa
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
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19
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Fereig RM, Abdelbaky HH, Kuroda Y, Nishikawa Y. Critical role of TLR2 in triggering protective immunity with cyclophilin entrapped in oligomannose-coated liposomes against Neospora caninum infection in mice. Vaccine 2019; 37:937-944. [PMID: 30660401 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 12/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Neospora caninum is an intracellular protozoan parasite closely related to Toxoplasma gondii. N. caninum is thought to be a major cause of abortion in cattle worldwide. Given the current situation of drastic economic losses and a lack of efficient control strategies against such parasites, the challenge to develop potent vaccine candidates and technologies remains. We investigated the immune stimulating activity of N. caninum cyclophilin (NcCyp) with and without a formulation with oligomannose-coated-liposomes (OML) as the potential adjuvant. NcCyp-OML activated NF-κB in RAW 264.7 cells and triggered interleukin (IL)-12p40 production from murine peritoneal macrophages. In BALB/c mice, immunization with NcCyp-OML was associated with the production of specific antibodies (IgG1 and IgG2a). The specific antibody (IgG1) against naked NcCyp was also observed after the challenge infection, but it was significantly lower than those of NcCyp-OML. Moreover, significant cellular immune responses were induced, including spleen cell proliferation and interferon-gamma production. The immunization of mice with NcCyp-OML, and to lesser extent with naked NcCyp, induced significant protection against challenge with a lethal dose of N. caninum compared with the PBS control group. This protection was associated with a higher survival rate, slight changes in body weight, and lower clinical score of mice. In addition, the significant protective efficacy of NcCyp-OML was confirmed in another mouse strain, male C57BL/6 mice. The current study revealed the marked contribution of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) to the protective immunity triggered by NcCyp-OML because higher numbers of TLR2-/- mice succumbed to a lethal dose of N. caninum compared with C57BL/6 mice. Moreover, prominent spleen cell proliferation and IFN-γ production was induced in NcCyp-OML-immunized mice by a TLR2-dependent mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ragab M Fereig
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan; Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena City, Qena 83523, Egypt
| | - Hanan H Abdelbaky
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Kuroda
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Tokai University, Kita-kaname, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1292, Japan.
| | - Yoshifumi Nishikawa
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
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20
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Fiorani F, Armendano JI, Hecker YP, Araoz V, Cantón GJ, Leunda MR, Pereyra SB, Corva PM, Odeón AC, Moore DP. Delayed type hypersensitivity induced by intradermal inoculation of a Neospora caninum tachyzoite antigen in previously exposed cattle. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2019; 207:31-35. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2018.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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21
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Neospora caninum Dense Granule Protein 7 Regulates the Pathogenesis of Neosporosis by Modulating Host Immune Response. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:AEM.01350-18. [PMID: 30006392 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01350-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neospora caninum is a protozoan parasite closely related to Toxoplasma gondii Neosporosis caused by N. caninum is considered one of the main causes of abortion in cattle and nervous-system dysfunction in dogs, and identification of the virulence factors of this parasite is important for the development of control measures. Here, we used a luciferase reporter assay to screen the dense granule proteins genes of N. caninum, and we found that NcGRA6, NcGRA7, and NcGRA14 are involved in the activation of the NF-κB, calcium/calcineurin, and cAMP/PKA signals. To analyze the functions of these proteins and Neospora cyclophilin, we successfully knocked out their genes in the Nc1 strain using plasmids containing the CRISPR/Cas9 components. Among the deficient lines, the NcGRA7-deficient parasites showed reduced virulence in mice. An RNA sequencing analysis of infected macrophage cultures showed that NcGRA7 mainly regulates the host cytokine and chemokine production. The levels of gamma interferon in the ascites fluid, CXCL10 expression in the peritoneal cells, and CCL2 expression in the spleen were lower 5 days after infection with the NcGRA7-deficient parasite than after infection with the parental strain. The parasite burden and the degree of necrosis in the brains of mice infected with the NcGRA7-deficient parasite were also lower than in those of the parental strain. Collectively, our data suggest that both the NcGRA7-dependent activation of the inflammatory response and the parasite burden are important in Neospora virulence.IMPORTANCENeospora caninum invades and replicates in a broad range of host species and cells within those hosts. The effector proteins exported by Neospora induce its pathogenesis by modulating the host immunity. We show that most of the transcriptomic effects in N. caninum-infected cells depend upon the activity of NcGRA7. A deficiency in NcGRA7 reduced the virulence of the parasite in mice. This study demonstrates the importance of NcGRA7 in the pathogenesis of neosporosis.
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22
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Li S, Gong P, Tai L, Li X, Wang X, Zhao C, Zhang X, Yang Z, Yang J, Li J, Zhang X. Extracellular Vesicles Secreted by Neospora caninum Are Recognized by Toll-Like Receptor 2 and Modulate Host Cell Innate Immunity Through the MAPK Signaling Pathway. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1633. [PMID: 30087675 PMCID: PMC6066505 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Neospora caninum is an obligate intracellular parasite, which causes significant economic losses in the cattle industry. However, the immune mechanism of the parasite–host interaction is not yet fully understood. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as a ubiquitous mechanism by which almost all cells, especially immune and tumor cells, participate in intercellular communications. Although studies have indicated that EVs secreted by Toxoplasma gondii or Trypanosoma brucei promote exchanges of biological molecules important for the host–parasite interplay, however, EVs and their biological activities in N. caninum is not clear. Here, we used multiple methods, including electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, RT-PCR, immunofluorescence, western blot, proteomics, and cytokine analyses, to examine the properties of N. caninum EVs. We found that N. caninum produced EVs that are similar to mammalian exosomes, which generally range from 30 to 150 nm in diameter. It was shown that N. caninum EVs could remarkably increase the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-12p40, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IFN-γ by wild-type (WT) mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) whereas the secretion of IL-12p40, TNF-α, and IFN-γ was very strongly downregulated in TLR2−/− mouse BMDMs. The levels of IL-6 were not affected, but the secretion of IL-10 was upregulated. We found that the phosphorylation levels of P38, ERK, and JNK were significantly reduced in the TLR2−/− cells compared with those in WT mouse BMDMs and that treatment with chemical inhibiters of P38, ERK, and JNK resulted in upregulation of IL-6, IL-12p40, and IL-10 production. Together, these results demonstrated that N. caninum EVs could be rapidly internalized to deliver proteins to the host cells and modulate the host cell immune responses through MAPK signaling pathway in a TLR2-dependent manner. Our study is the first to reveal potential roles for N. caninum EVs in host communication and immune response in parasite–host interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Pengtao Gong
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Lixin Tai
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xin Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiaocen Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Chunyan Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xu Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Zhengtao Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Ju Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jianhua Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xichen Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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