RESUMEN
The aim of this study was the expression of goose parvovirus capsid protein (VP3) and its epitopes in Escherichia coli cells. Expression of the whole VP3 protein provided an insufficient amount of protein. In contrast, the expression of two VP3 epitopes (VP3ep4, VP3ep6) in E. coli, resulted in very high expression levels. This may suggest that smaller parts of the GPV antigenic determinants are more efficiently expressed than the complete VP3 gene.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas de la Cápside/metabolismo , Epítopos/metabolismo , Escherichia coli/metabolismo , Regulación Viral de la Expresión Génica/fisiología , Parvovirus/clasificación , Proteínas de la Cápside/genética , Epítopos/genética , Escherichia coli/genética , Parvovirus/metabolismoRESUMEN
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.
Asunto(s)
ADN Protozoario/inmunología , Proteínas Protozoarias/inmunología , Vacunas Antiprotozoos/inmunología , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/prevención & control , Toxoplasma/inmunología , Toxoplasmosis Animal/prevención & control , Animales , Anticuerpos Antiprotozoarios/sangre , Células CHO , Cricetinae , Regulación de la Expresión Génica , Inmunoglobulina G/sangre , Interferón gamma , Liposomas , Ovinos , Toxoplasma/metabolismo , VacunaciónRESUMEN
In this study, to determine the prevalence of swine toxoplasmosis, 1754 pigs from different regions of Poland were tested for IgG antibodies by an in-house ELISA technique based on native Toxoplasma lysate antigen. Seropositive individuals were found in 19.2% of the examined population. The diagnostic usefulness of three T. gondii recombinant antigens (rMAG1, rSAG1, and rGRA7), either individually or in cocktails (M1: rMAG1 + rSAG1; M2: rMAG1 + rGRA7; M3: rSAG1 + rGRA7; M4: rMAG1 + rSAG1 + rGRA7) were also assessed with serum samples from naturally infected pigs by ELISA analysis. Both rSAG1 and rGRA7 antigens detected specific IgG antibodies with a similar sensitivity (85.3% and 81.3%, respectively), whereas the lower sensitivity was obtained for rMAG1 (only 64%). Better results of reactivity were obtained for mixtures of two antigens: M1 (86.7%), M2 (89.3%) and M3 (92%). Furthermore, the reactivity of three antigens cocktail M4 (97.3%) was much higher than that of individual proteins and combinations containing two antigens. These results suggest that the combination of three recombinant antigens might be useful for the serological detection of T. gondii infection in pigs.
