Protective effects of membrane-anchored and secreted DNA vaccines encoding fatty acid-binding protein and glutathione S-transferase against Schistosoma japonicum

PLoS One. 2014 Jan 23;9(1):e86575. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0086575. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

In order to explore the high performance bivalent DNA-based vaccine against schistosomes, SjFABP and Sj26GST were selected and used to construct a vaccine. Two strategies were used to construct the bivalent DNA vaccine. In the first strategy, a plasmid encoding antigen in the secreted form was used, while in the other, a plasmid encoding a truncated form of SjFABP and Sj26GST targeted to the cell surface was used. Various parameters, including antibody and cytokine response, proliferation, histopathological examination, and characterization of T cell subsets were used to evaluate the type of immune response and the level of protection against challenge infection. Injection with secreted pIRES-sjFABP-sj26GST significantly increased the levels of antibody, splenocyte proliferation, and production of IFN-γ, compared with membrane-anchored groups. Analysis of splenic T cell subsets showed that the secreted vaccine significantly increased the percentage of CD3(+)CD4(+) and CD3(+)CD8(+) T cells. Liver immunopathology (size of liver granulomas) was significantly reduced in the secreted group compared with the membrane-anchored groups. Moreover, challenge experiments showed that the worm and egg burdens were significantly reduced in animals immunized with recombinant vaccines. Most importantly, secreted Sj26GST-SjFABP markedly enhanced protection, by reducing worm and egg burdens by 31.8% and 24.78%, respectively, while the membrane-anchored group decreased worm and egg burdens by 24.80% and 18.80%, respectively. Taken together, these findings suggest that the secretory vaccine is more promising than the membrane-anchored vaccine, and provides support for the development and application of this vaccine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Helminth / blood
  • Antigens, Helminth / immunology
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / immunology
  • Glutathione Transferase / genetics*
  • Glutathione Transferase / immunology
  • Helminth Proteins / immunology
  • Immunization
  • Macrophages, Peritoneal / drug effects
  • Macrophages, Peritoneal / immunology
  • Macrophages, Peritoneal / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Parasite Egg Count
  • Schistosoma japonicum / immunology*
  • Schistosomiasis japonica / genetics
  • Schistosomiasis japonica / immunology
  • Schistosomiasis japonica / prevention & control*
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Spleen / metabolism
  • Vaccines, DNA / administration & dosage*
  • Vaccines, DNA / immunology
  • Vaccines, DNA / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Helminth
  • Antigens, Helminth
  • Cytokines
  • Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins
  • Helminth Proteins
  • Vaccines, DNA
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Glutathione Transferase

Grants and funding

This study was supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30471603). URL: http://www.nsfc.gov.cn/Portal0/default152.htm. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.