The immune response of rats to vaccination with the cDNA or protein forms of the cysteine proteinase of Fasciola hepatica.

Our previous experiments have shown that intramuscular injection of Sprague-Dawley rats with a pcDNA 3.1 vector carrying cDNA encoding for a cysteine proteinase (CP) of F. hepatica may induce a high level of protection against subsequent infection with F. hepatica metacercariae (mc). The aim of the present study is to compare the immune response of Sprague-Dawley rats vaccinated intranasally with plasmid containing cDNA of CP of the fluke and intramuscularly or intraperitoneally with the recombinated enzyme protein to challenge with fluke metacercariae. In addition, protection following intranasal DNA vaccination was evaluated. Two experiments were carried out. In the first experiment rats were vaccinated twice with 50microg of cDNA containing plasmid or with 100microg protein of recombinated CP. Three weeks after the second vaccination rats were challenged orally with 25 mc. On days 0, 21, 42 and 63 after the challenge blood samples were collected for the evaluation of white blood cell, eosinophil and specific antibody responses. During the second experiment groups of five male and female rats were vaccinated twice intranasally with CPcDNA then challenged with 30 mc and dissected 5 weeks later. Results obtained in the experiments suggested that intranasal immunisation of rats with CPcDNA seems to favour a Th2 regulated antibody response. Intramuscular or intraperitoneal injections of CP protein stimulate both Th1 and Th2-dependent antibodies. Mean worm burdens found in rats vaccinated intranasally 5 or 10 weeks after the challenge were reduced by 61-75% in comparison with the challenge controls which suggests that intranasal vaccination with CPcDNA may protect hosts against F. hepatica infection.

Humoral response in hamsters following vaccination with cDNA encoding acey-1 cysteine proteinase of Ancylostoma ceylanicum.

The humoral response in hamsters following vaccination against Ancylostoma ceylanicum infections with DNA construct was investigated. Groups of hamsters were injected intramuscularly with plasmid pcDNA 3.1. containing cDNA of ACEY-1 cysteine proteinase. Vaccination resulted in IgG antibody response to somatic extracts of adult A. ceylanicum. The highest level of antibodies was observed seven weeks after vaccination.

Successful DNA immunisation of rats against fasciolosis.

The liver fluke Fasciola hepatica contributes to great economic and health losses in the cattle industry in many countries, including Poland. Unfortunately, no vaccine against fasciolosis is commercially available. We have designed a DNA vaccine and tested it in rats. Groups of male or female rats received one intramuscular injection of 50 microg of a pcDNA 3.1 vector carrying cDNA encoding for a cysteine proteinase of F. hepatica. The plasmid was diluted in saline containing 0.05% bupivacaine. Control rats were injected with empty plasmid or not injected at all. All rats were challenged with 45 metacercariae of the fluke on day 28 of the experiment. Seven weeks after the challenge infection fluke burdens were evaluated in vaccinated and control rats. Male rats vaccinated with cysteine proteinase cDNA revealed 100% protection against F. hepatica infection. Females immunised in the same way exhibited the reduction of fluke burden by 74%.

Molecular cloning of a cysteine proteinase cDNA from adult Ancylostoma ceylanicum by the method of rapid amplification of cDNA ends using polymerase chain reaction.

The hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum is a parasite of great importance in human and veterinary medicine. The most promising vaccination trials against hookworm infections are based on antigens belonging to the proteinase family. The aim of the present research was to isolate a cysteine proteinase gene from A. ceylanicum. This was achieved by rapid amplification of cDNA ends using polymerase chain reaction (RACE-PCR). A set of consensus oligonucleotide primers was designed to anneal to the conserved coding regions of cysteine proteinase. The PCR products were cloned and sequenced. The novel sequence displayed a high degree of homology with genes of cysteine proteinases known from other hookworm species. In the coding region the nucleotide identity with accp-1, the cysteine proteinase gene of A. caninum, reaches 84.3%. Analysis of the expression of acey-1. the cysteine proteinase gene of A. ceylanicum, suggests that it is produced exclusively in the gland cells of either adult worms or blood-feeding stages of A. ceylanicum.