Effect of infection with Toxoplasma gondii on the complement regulatory proteins in the mouse placenta / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

Objective To investigate the expression of complement regulatory proteins on placentas of pregnant C57BL/6 mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii in order to explore the molecular immunological mechanism for abnormal pregnancy induced by T. gondii infection. Methods Twenty-four pregnant C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into two groups equally. The infection group was intraperitoneally injected with 200 of living T, gondii RH strain tachyzoites on the 8th day of gestation, and the normal group of mice was injected with physiological saline. All mice were killed on day 14 after gestation and placentas were collected. The expression levels of Crry, GPI-DAF and CD59a mRNA were analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR, and the positive rates of Crry and GPI-DAF were measured with flow cytometry. Results The died fetus rates of infected group and control were 80. 95% and 4. 41% , respectively. The infected group was significantly higher than of that the control group (P＜0.01). The expression levels of Crry, GPT-DAF and CD59a mRNA in the infected and control group were 0.786 ±0. 199, 0.594 ±0.096, 0.880 ±0. 179 and 0.550 ±0.077, 0.221 ±0.074, 0.591 ± 0.075 , respectively, and the difference of three kind of complement regulation proteins between two groups was all significant (P＜0.01). The positive percentages of Crry and GPI-DAF cells of infected and control group were (10. 03 ± 2. 11) % , (2.95 ±1.04)% and (3. 15 ± 1. 32) % , (0. 66 ±0. 26) % , respectively, and the difference of the two kind complement regulation proteins between two groups was also significant ( P ＜ 0. 01). Conclusion The expression level of mouse placental complement regulatory proteins was increased after infection with T. gondii, and then immunological microenvironment at the fetomaternal interface was destroyed. It may be one of important immunological mechanism for abnormal pregnancy induced by T. gondii infection.

Evaluation of the Korean Isolate-1 Tachyzoite Antigen for Serodiagnosis of Toxoplasmosis

To evaluate the usefulness of the Korean Isolate-1 (KI-1) antigen for serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis, antigen profiles of KI-1 tachyzoites were analyzed in comparison with RH tachyzoites by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting. ELISA was performed on latex agglutination (LA)-positive and negative serum samples using KI-1 and RH antigens. Immunoblotting of the KI-1 antigen showed multiple antigen bands with molecular sizes of 22-105 kDa. Among them, 1 and 6 common bands were noted against a KI-1-infected and a RH-infected human serum, respectively, which represented differences in antigenic profiles between KI-1 and RH tachyzoites. However, all 9 LA-positive human sera were found positive by ELISA, and all 12 LA-negative sera were negative by ELISA; the correlation between the ELISA titers and LA titers was high (r = 0.749). Our results suggest that tachyzoites of KI-1 may be useful for serodiagnosis of human toxoplasmosis.

Evaluation of the Korean Isolate-1 Tachyzoite Antigen for Serodiagnosis of Toxoplasmosis

To evaluate the usefulness of the Korean Isolate-1 (KI-1) antigen for serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis, antigen profiles of KI-1 tachyzoites were analyzed in comparison with RH tachyzoites by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting. ELISA was performed on latex agglutination (LA)-positive and negative serum samples using KI-1 and RH antigens. Immunoblotting of the KI-1 antigen showed multiple antigen bands with molecular sizes of 22-105 kDa. Among them, 1 and 6 common bands were noted against a KI-1-infected and a RH-infected human serum, respectively, which represented differences in antigenic profiles between KI-1 and RH tachyzoites. However, all 9 LA-positive human sera were found positive by ELISA, and all 12 LA-negative sera were negative by ELISA; the correlation between the ELISA titers and LA titers was high (r = 0.749). Our results suggest that tachyzoites of KI-1 may be useful for serodiagnosis of human toxoplasmosis.

Primary structure of mature SAG1 gene of an Indonesian Toxoplasma gondii and comparison with other strains

Toxoplasma gondii is a persistent protozoan parasite capable of infecting almost any warm-blooded vertebrates. SAG1 (p30) is the prototypic member of a superfamily of surface antigens called SRS (SAG1-related sequence). It constitutes the most abundant and predominant antigen. In this paper the primary structure of mature SAG1 gene of an Indonesian T. gondii isolate is described and sequence comparison is made with published sequence data of 7 other strains or isolates. Sequence comparison indicated that SAG1 is highly conserved through evolution and despite parasite spreading world-wide. Sequences may be divided into two major families, independent of the strain/isolate geographic origin. Variations were mainly localized at the C-terminal half or domain 2 and some clustered in restricted areas. Sequence comparison allowed us to define the Indonesian isolate as genuine virulent RH strain. A phylogenetic tree of Toxoplasma strains/isolates was constructed based on SAG1.

Laboratory passage and characterization of an isolate of Toxoplasma gondii from an ocular patient in Korea

Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites were isolated from the blood of an ocular patient, and have been successfully passaged in the laboratory, for over a year, by peritoneal inoculation in mice. The isolated parasite was designated the Korean Isolate-1 (KI-1) and its characteristics were compared with those of the RH strain, a wellknown virulent strain originating from a child who suffered from encephalitis. The morphology, pathogenicity, infectivity and cell culture characteristics of the KI-1 were similar to those of the RH strain. Both RH and KI-1 antigens were detected by an anti-T. gondii monoclonal antibody (mAb), Tg563, against the major surface protein SAG1 (30 kDa), whereas no reaction was observed against an anti-Neospora caninum mAb, 12B4. The KI-1 was confirmed as an isolate of T. gondii. A long-term laboratory maintenance and characterization of a local T. gondii isolate is reported for the first time in the Republic of Korea.

Protective immunity effects of co-immunization with P30 DNA vaccine and protein vaccine / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Objective To study protective immunity effects of co-immunization with P30 DNA vaccine and protein vaccine. Methods Forty-eight 5-6 weeks old BALB/c female mice were divided into four groups (A,B,C,D), 12 mice of each group. In group A (control group) each mouse was immunized with 100 ?g pcDNA3.1 plasmid DNA by intramuscular (i.m.) for three times at week 0,2 and 4; in group B (P30 protein group) each mouse was immunized (i.m.) with 50 ?g rP30+50 ?g CFA for three times at week 0, 2 and 4; in group C (pcDNA3.1-P30 group) each mouse was immunized with 100 ?g pcDNA3.1-P30 plasmid DNA (i.m.) for three times at week 0, 2 and 4; in group D (P30 DNA+rP30 co-immunization group) each mouse was immunized with 100 ?g pcDNA3.1-P30 plasmid DNA (i.m.) for two times at week 0, 2 and immunized by subcutaneous with 50 ?g rP30+50 ?g CFA at week 4. Each mouse was infected with 100 tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii RH strain four weeks later after last immunization. The anti-P30 antibodies were detected with ELISA before the challenge. Results The P30 DNA vaccine was successfully constructed. High titers of anti-P30 antibodies were induced in each mouse immunized with DNA vaccine. The protective trial proved that there was no significant difference between control group and experimental group though the survival time of mouse from experimental group had been prolonged. Conclusion The P30 DNA vaccine could induced high titers of anti- P30 antibodies in immunized mice, and it may be a potential DNA vaccine candidate.