National Institute of Animal Health (NIAH)

Topics in Animal Health Research 2001

10. Intranasal immunization with recombinant Ascaris suum 14-kDa antigen coupled with cholera toxin B subunit induces protective immunity to A. suum infection in mice

Japanese

  Animals can be rendered immune to Ascaris parasites by immunization with its infectious stage larvae. The specific parasite gene products that mediate protective responses in ascariasis are unknown. We have identified a cDNA encoding Ascaris suum 14-kDa antigen (As14) and evaluated the vaccinal effect of the Escherichia coli-expressed recombinant protein (rAs14). GenBank analysis showed that As14 has low similarity at the amino acid level to a Caenorhabditis elegans gene product and to antigens of the filarial nematodes, but not to other known proteins. In addition, As14 homologues were found to be expressed in human and dog roundworms. In mice that received intranasal administration of rAs14 coupled with cholera toxin B subunit (rAs14-CTB), there was a 64% reduction of recovery of larvae compared with that in the non-treated group. The vaccinated mice showed a significant increase in the level of total serum IgG and mucosal IgA responses. Elevation of the rAs14 specific-IgE response was also seen. Measurement of the IgG subclasses showed a higher level of IgG1 and a lower level of IgG2a antibody response in the sera of the immunized mice, suggesting that the protection was associated with a type II immune response. As14 is the first protective antigen to be identified against A. suum infection. Our immunization trial result in laboratory animals suggest the possibility of developing a mucosal vaccine for parasitic diseases caused by ascarid nematodes. (Parasitic Disease Section, Department of Infectious Diseases TEL +81-298-38-7749)

Reference:

Tsuji et al. (2001) Infect. Immun. 69:7285-7292.

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