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Protective immunity induced by a DNA vaccine encoding Eimeria tenella rhomboid against homologous challenge

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Abstract

Rhomboid protein in Apicomplexa was associated with the process of host cell invasion. To evaluate the potential of the protein in eliciting protective immunity against challenge, a DNA vaccine pVAX1-Rho encoding Eimeria tenella rhomboid was constructed. Recombinant protein was expressed in Hela cells and verified by indirect immunofluorescence and western blotting analysis. In vivo experiments, 1-week-old chickens were randomly divided into three groups. Experimental group of chickens were immunized with DNA vaccines while control group of chickens were injected with pVAX1 plasmid alone or sterile water. Two weeks following the booster dose, all chickens were inoculated orally with 5 × 104 sporulated oocysts of E. tenella. The host immunity and protective efficacy of this vaccine against E. tenella challenge in broilers were evaluated. Results showed that specific antibody, the levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and the percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte cells were significantly increased in the pVAX1-Rho group. Challenge experiments demonstrated that pVAX1-Rho vaccination could reduce oocyst excretion, decrease cecal lesion, increase bodyweight gains and provide chickens with oocysts decrease ratio around 75.8 %. These results suggest that the pVAX1-Rho was able to induce humoral and cellular responses and generate protective immunity against E. tenella infection.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (nos. 31072123 and 30500370), Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University and Jilin Provincial Department of Science and Technology (no. 20070135).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, 5333 Xi’an Road, Changchun, 130062, People’s Republic of China

    Yingli Liu, Jianhua Li, Pengtao Gong & Xichen Zhang

  2. Institute of military veterinary, Academy of military medical science, Changchun, 130122, People’s Republic of China

    Yingli Liu

  3. National Key Laboratory of Veterinary Biotechnology, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), 427 Maduan Street, Harbin, 150001, People’s Republic of China

    Jun Zheng

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  1. Yingli Liu
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  2. Jun Zheng
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  3. Jianhua Li
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  4. Pengtao Gong
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  5. Xichen Zhang
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Correspondence to Jianhua Li or Xichen Zhang.

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Liu, Y., Zheng, J., Li, J. et al. Protective immunity induced by a DNA vaccine encoding Eimeria tenella rhomboid against homologous challenge. Parasitol Res 112, 251–257 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-012-3132-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-012-3132-2

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