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Evaluation of immunoprotective effects of recombinant protein and DNA vaccine based on Eimeria tenella surface antigen 16 and 22 in vivo

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Abstract

Coccidiosis triggered by Eimeria tenella is accompanied by haemorrhagic caecum and high morbidity. Vaccines are preferable choices to replace chemical drugs against coccidiosis. Surface antigens of apicomplexan parasites can adhere to host cells during the infection process. Therefore, truncated fragments coding E. tenella surface antigen 16 (EtSAG16) and 22 (EtSAG22) were cloned into pET-28a prokaryotic vector to express recombinant protein 16 (rEtSAG16) and 22 (rEtSAG22), respectively. Likewise, pEGFP-N1-EtSAG16 and pEGFP-N1-EtSAG22 plasmids were constructed using pEGFP-N1 eukaryotic vector. Further, pEGFP-N1-EtSAG4-16-22 multiple gene plasmid carrying EtSAG4, 16 and 22 were designed as cocktail vaccines to study integral immunoprotective effects. Western blot and RT-PCR (reverse transcription) assay were performed to verify expressions of EtSAG16 and 22 genes. Immunoprotective effects of recombinant protein or DNA vaccine were evaluated using different doses (50 or 100 μg) in vivo. All chickens in the vaccination group showed higher cytokine concentration (IFN-γ and IL-17), raised IgY antibody level, increased weight gain, lower caecum lesion score and reduced oocyst shedding compared with infection control groups (p < 0.05). The highest anticoccidial index (ACI) value 173.11 was from the pEGFP-N1-EtSAG4-16-22 plasmid (50 μg) group. In conclusion, EtSAG16 and 22 might be alternative candidate genes for generating vaccines against E. tenella infection.

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Funding

Thanks for the funding support provided by the national key research and development program “Research on detection and control technology of key pathogens in livestock and poultry” (subject no. 2016YFD0501303).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China

    Pengfei Zhao, Chaofei Wang, Yingjun Xia, Yanli Hu, Li Zhang, Yanqin Zhou, Junlong Zhao & Rui Fang

  2. Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center, Jingshan, 431800, Hubei, China

    Jun Ding

  3. Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center, Anlu, 432600, Hubei, China

    Chengfeng Zhao

Authors
  1. Pengfei Zhao
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  2. Chaofei Wang
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  3. Jun Ding
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  4. Chengfeng Zhao
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  5. Yingjun Xia
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  6. Yanli Hu
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  7. Li Zhang
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  8. Yanqin Zhou
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  9. Junlong Zhao
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  10. Rui Fang
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Contributions

Conceptualisation, formal analysis, funding acquisition, methodology and project administration, RF; investigation, PZ, CW, YX, YH and LZ; supervision, JD, CZ, YZ and JZ; writing the original draft, PZ. All authors have read and consented to publish the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rui Fang.

Ethics declarations

All animal experiments conformed to relevant provisions of the ethical committee of Huazhong Agricultural University, referring to stipulations of the care and use of laboratory animals in China.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Section Editor: Berit Bangoura

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Zhao, P., Wang, C., Ding, J. et al. Evaluation of immunoprotective effects of recombinant protein and DNA vaccine based on Eimeria tenella surface antigen 16 and 22 in vivo. Parasitol Res 120, 1861–1871 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-021-07105-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-021-07105-y

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