Skip to main content
Download PDF

Schistosoma japonicum: The design and experimental evaluation of a multivalent DNA vaccine

Cellular & Molecular Biology Letters volume 11, pages 449–460 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

The aim of this study was to construct and evaluate the immunity efficacy of the DNA multivalent vaccine pVIVO2SjFABP-23. The vaccine was constructed and produced as follows. Forty BALB/c mice were divided into four groups designated pVIVO2, pVIVO2Sj23, pVIVO2SjFABP and pVIVO2SjFABP-23. Each mouse was immunized with 100 μg of the corresponding plasmid DNA by intramuscular injection. 28 days post-vaccination, the mice were challenged with S. japonicum cercariae, and the worm and egg burdens were determined 42 days post-challenge. Serum samples were collected from all the mice before and after vaccination and at the end of the experiment, and used for antibody detection. The IFN-γ and IL-4 levels were quantified in the supernatants of specifically stimulated spleen cells. The number of worms was reduced by 52%, 40% and 42% in mice respectively immunized with pVIVO2SjFABP-23, pVIVO2Sj23 or pVIVO2SjFABP. A respective 61%, 38% and 39% egg reduction was determined relative to those mice that only received the empty pVIVO2 plasmid. pVIVO2SjFABP-23 immunization increased IgG levels against SWAP and SEA. Increased IFN-γ levels were detected in the supernatant of specific stimulated spleen cells from mice immunized with the 3 different constructs. The multivalent DNA vaccine developed induced higher levels of protection than the two monovalent tested vaccines.

Abbreviations

FABP:

fatty acid binding protein

SEA:

soluble egg antigen

Sj:

Schistosoma japonicum

SOE:

splicing by overlapping extension

SWAP:

soluble adult worm antigens

WHO:

world health organization

23:

23 kDa membrane protein

References

  1. Ross, A.G. Schistosomiasis. N. Engl. J. Med. 346 (2002) 1212–1220.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Chitsulo, L., Engels, D., Montresor, A. and Savioli, L. The global status of schistosomiasis and its control. Acta Trop. 77 (2000) 41–51.

    PubMed  CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  3. WHO Expert Committee. Prevention and control of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis: report of the WHO expert committee. WHO Technical Report Series No. 912. (World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland), 2002, 1–57.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Van der Werf, M.J. and De Vlas, S.J. Quantification of clinical morbidity associated with Schistosoma infection in sub-Saharan Africa. Acta Trop. 86 (2003) 125–139.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Tan, H.Z., Yang, M.X., Wu, Z.G., Zhou, J., Liu, A.Z., Li, S.Q., Yang, T.B., Zhou, Y.B., and Sun, Z.Q. Rapid screening method for Schistosoma japonicum infection using questionnaires in flood area of the People’s Republic of China. Acta Trop. 90 (2004) 1–9.

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Gurunathan, S., Klinman, D. and Seder, R. DNA vaccines immunology, application and optimization. Annu Rev. Immunol. 18 (2000) 927–974.

    PubMed  CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Alarcon, J., Waine, G. and McManus, D.P. DNA vaccines: technology and application as anti-parasite and antimicrobial agents. Adv. Parasitol. 42 (1999) 343–410.

    PubMed  CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Kofta, W. and Wedrychowicz, H. c-DNA vaccination against parasitic infections. advantages and disadvantages. Vet. Parasitol. 100 (2001) 3–12.

    PubMed  CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Rosas, G., Fragoso, G., Garate, T., Hernandez, B., Ferrero, P., Foster-Cuevas, M., Parkhouse, R.M., Harrison, L.J., Briones, S.L., Gonzalez, L.M. and Sciutto, E. Protective immunity against Taenia crassiceps murine cysticercosis induced by DNA vaccination with a Taenia saginata tegument antigen. Microbes Infect. 4 (2002) 1417–1426.

    PubMed  CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Wang, Q.M., Sun, S.H., Hu, Z.L., Wu, D. and Wang, Z.C. Immune response and protection elicited by DNA immunization against Taenia cysticercosis. Vaccine. 21 (2003) 1672–1680.

    PubMed  CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Waine, G., Alarcon, J. and McManus, D.P. Genetic immunization of mice with DNA encoding the 23 kDa transmembrane surface protein of Schistosoma japonicum (Sj23) induces antigen-specific immunoglobulin G antibodies. Parasite Immunol. 21 (1999) 377–381.

    PubMed  CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Siddiqui, A.A., Phillips, T., Charest, H., Podesta, R.B., Quinlin, M.L., Pinkston, J.K., Lloyd, J.D., Pompa, J., Villalovos, R.M. and Paz, M. Enhancement of Sm-p80 (large subunit of calpain) induced protective immunity against Schistosoma mansoni through co-delivery of interleukin-2 and interleukin-12 in a DNA vaccine formulation. Vaccine 21 (2003) 2882–2889.

    PubMed  CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Zhang, Y., Taylor, M., Johansen, M. and Bickle, Q. Vaccination of mice with a cocktail DNA vaccine induces a Th1-type immune response and partial protection against Schistosoma japonicum infection. Vaccine 20 (2002) 724–730.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Zhao, W., Su, C., Wu, H.W, Hu, X.M., Shen, L., Ji, M.L., Wang, R.Z., Ma, L., Chen, S.Z. and Zhang, Z.S. Studies on immunoprotection in mice after immunization with Schistosoma japonicum fatty acid binding protein (SjFABPc) recombinant protein. Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 18 (2002) 42–44.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Li, L.Z., Shi, Y.E., Jiang, K., Ning, C.X. and Deng, W.W. Study on the immune effect of multianti genic DNA vaccine pBK-Sj26(Sj32)-Sj23 of Schistosoma japonicum. Acta Univ. Med. Tongji. 30 (2001) 404–406.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Liu, S.X., Song, G.C., Xu, Y. X., McManus, D.P. and Hotez, P.J. Progress in the development of a vaccine against Schistosomiasis in China. Int. J. Infect. Dis. 2 (1998) 176–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Zhou, S.H., Liu, S.X., Song, G.C., Xu, Y. X. and Sun, W. Protective immunity induced by the full-length cDNA encoding paramyosin of Chinese Schistosoma japonicum. Vaccine 18 (2000) 3196–3204.

    PubMed  CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Zhu, Y.C., Ren, J.G., Da’dara, A., Harn, D.A., Xu, M., Si, J., Yu, C.X., Liang, Y.S., Ye, P., Yin, X.R., He, W., Xu, Y.L., Gao, Q., and Hua, W.Q. The protective effect of a Schistosoma japonicum Chinese strain 23kDa plasmid DNA vaccine in pigs is enhanced with IL-12. Vaccine 23 (2004) 78–83.

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Gan, Y., Shi, Y.E., Bu, L.Y. Zhu, X.H., Ning, C.X. and Zhu, H.G. Immune responses against Schistosoma japonicum after vaccinating mice with a multivalent DNA vaccine encoding integrated membrane protein Sj23 and cytokine interleukin-12. Chin. Med. J. 117 (2004) 1842–1846.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Li, L.Z. and Shi, Y.E. The protection of Sj23 DNA vaccine on mice. Chin. J. Schisto. Control. 11 (1999) 71–74.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Zhu, X.H. and Shi, Y.E. The Immunoprotective Effect of Co-inoculation of Schistosoma japonicum Fatty Acid Binding Protein (Sj14FABP) DNA and IL-12 in the Mouse. Herald of Medicine 24 (2005) 268–270.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Zhu, X.H., Shi, Y.E., Hu P., Ning, C.X. and Zhu, H.G. Protective immunity induced by plasmid DNA encoding fatty acid binding protein of Schistosoma japonicum in mice. Chin. J. Schisto. Control 17 (2005) 4–8.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Yu, C.X., Zhu, Y.C., Yin, X.R., Ren, J.G., Si, J., Xu, Y.L., Shen L.N. and He, W. Protective immunity induced by the nucleic acid vaccine of fatty acid binding protein of Schistosoma japonicum Chinese strain (SjCFABP) in BALB/c mice. Chin. J. Schisto. Control 14 (2002) 163–167.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Jankovic, D., Wynn, T.A., Kullberg, M.C., Hieny, S., Caspar, P., James, S., Cheever A.W. and Sher, A. Optimal vaccination against Schistosoma mansoni requires the induction of both B cell-and IFN-gamma-dependent effect mechanisms. J. Immunol. 162 (1999) 345–351.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Wynm, T.A. and Hoffmanm, K.F. Defining a schistosomiasis vaccination strategy-is it really Th1 versus Th2? Parasitol. Today 16 (2000) 497–501.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Becker, M.M., Kalinna, B.H., Waine, G.J., and McManus, D.P. Gene cloning, overproduction and purification of a functionally active cytoplasmic fatty acid-binding protein (SjFABPc) from the human blood fluke Schistosoma japonicum. Gene 148 (1994) 321–325.

    PubMed  CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Gobert, G.N., Stenzel, D.J., Jones, M.K., and McManus, D.P. Immunolocalization of the fatty acid-binding protein Sj FABPc within adult Schistosoma japonicum. Parasitology 115 (1997) 33–39.

    PubMed  CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Wright, M.D., Melder, A.M., Davern, K.M. and Mitchell, G.F. Serologic activities of the 23 kDa integral membrane proteins of schistosomes. J. Immunol. 147 (1991) 4338–4342.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Davern, K.M., Wright, M.D., Herrmann, V.R. and Mitchell, G.F. Further characterisation of the Schistosoma japon-icum protein Sj26, a target antigen of an immunodiagnostic monoclonal antibody. Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 48 (1991) 67–75.

    PubMed  CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Wu, Z.D., Lu, Z.Y. and Yu, X.B. Development of a vaccine against Schistosoma japonicum in China: a review. Acta Tropica 96 (2005) 106–116.

    PubMed  CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Ren, J.G., Zhu, Y.C., Harn, D.A., Yu, C.X., Yin, X.R., Si, J., He, W., Xu, M., Hua, W.Q., and Xu, Y.L. Protective immunity induced with 23kDa membrane protein DNA vaccine of Schistosoma japonicum Chinese strain in infected C57BL/6 mice. Chin. J. Parasitol. Parasit. Dis. 19 (2001) 336–339.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Waine, G.J., Alarcon, J.B., Qiu, C. and McManus, D.P. Genetic immunization of mice with DNA encoding the 23 kDa transmembrane surface protein of Schistosoma japonicum (Sj23) induces antigen-specific immunoglobulin G antibodies. Parasite Immunol. 21 (1999) 377–381.

    PubMed  CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Verity, C., McManus, D.P. and Brindley, P.J. Cellular responses to Schistosoma japonicum cathepsin D aartic protease. Parasite Immunol. 24 (2002) 363–367.

    PubMed  CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  34. McManus, D.P. and Bartley, P.B. A vaccine against Asian schistosomiasis. Parasitol. Int. 53 (2004) 163–173.

    PubMed  CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Demeure, C.E., Rihet, P., Abel, L., Quattara, M., Bourgoirs, A. and Dassein, A.J. Resistance to S. mansoni in humans: influence of IgE/IgG4 in immunity to reinfection after chemotherapy. J. Infect. Dis. 168 (1993) 1000–1008.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Grzych, J.M., De Bont, J., Liu, J., Neyrinck, J.L., Fontaine, J., Vercruysse, J. and Capron, A. Relationship of impairment of schistosome 28-kilodalton glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity to express of immunity to Schistosoma mattheei in calves vaccinated with recombinant Schistosoma bovis 28-kilodalton GST. Infect. Immun. 66 (1998) 1142–1148.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Life school, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Luoyu Road 1037, Wuhan, 430074, PR China

    Chunyan Li, Longjiang Yu, Zhi Liu, Min Zhu & Sijin Meng

  2. Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road 13, Wuhan, 430030, PR China

    Yuan Hu, Xiaohua Zhu & Youen Shi

  3. Department of Sports Kinetics, Wuhan Institute of Physical Education, Luoyu Road 461, Wuhan, 430079, PR China

    Chunyan Li & Sijin Meng

Authors
  1. Chunyan Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Longjiang Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zhi Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lu Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yuan Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Min Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Xiaohua Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Youen Shi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Sijin Meng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Longjiang Yu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Li, C., Yu, L., Liu, Z. et al. Schistosoma japonicum: The design and experimental evaluation of a multivalent DNA vaccine. Cell Mol Biol Lett 11, 449–460 (2006). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11658-006-0036-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11658-006-0036-0

Key words

  • DNA vaccine
  • Schistosoma japonicum
  • Sj23
  • SjFABP
  • Protective efficacy

Cellular & Molecular Biology Letters

ISSN: 1689-1392

Contact us