A single dose of recombinant Salmonella typhimurium induces specific humoral immune responses against heterologous Eimeria tenella antigens in chicken

Salmonella typhimurium vaccine strains were used as antigen delivery system for oral immunisation of chickens against two antigens of the coccidian parasite Eimeria tenella. The cDNAs of the known E. tenella proteins, SO7 and TA4, were isolated from total RNA and subcloned into the expression vectors pQE30 and pTECH2. Subcutaneous immunisation of chickens with Escherichia coli-expressed SO7 and TA4 revealed that both proteins were immunogenic. Both cDNAs were subcloned into plasmids of the pTECH2 vector system, which allows them to be expressed as fusion proteins with the highly immunogenic fragment C of the tetanus toxin under control of the anaerobically inducible nirB promoter. Plasmids were introduced into the S. typhimurium vaccine strains SL3261, C5aroD and C5htrA. SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis revealed expression of both fusion proteins in all strains under anaerobic culture conditions. Three-week-old white leghorn chickens were orally immunised with 10(9) CFU per animal. The stability of the recombinant bacteria was revealed by recovery of viable Salmonella containing the respective plasmids from the liver of the immunised chickens at day 3 after inoculation. Specific serum IgG antibodies against the SO7-or TA4-antigens were detectable by ELISA 2 weeks after oral immunisation and remained for at least 6 weeks, while specific IgA antibodies were restricted to the bile of the birds. All chickens produced serum IgG and IgA to S. typhimurium lipopolysaccharides. Our data show that a single oral inoculation with recombinant S. typhimurium SL3261, C5aroD and C5htrA can induce specific antibody responses to heterologous Eimeria antigens in chickens, suggesting that recombinant Salmonella are a suitable delivery system for vaccines against Eimeria infections.     

鸡新城疫口服DNA疫苗的安全性、稳定性与免疫效力

将含新城疫病毒（NDV）F₄₈E₉株融合蛋白（F）基因的真核表达质粒pcDNA3-F的减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌ZJ111株（ZJ111/pcDAN3-F）口服接种小鼠和雏鸡。结果表明：利用该减毒株作为载体传递DNA疫苗具有相对安全性。用酶切和PCR鉴定法证实在体内外无抗生素存在的条件下重组质粒在受体菌ZJ111菌株内比较稳定。ZJ111/pcDAN3-F以每羽10⁸cfu免疫雏鸡,2周后二免,二免后4周攻击致死剂量的强毒株F₄₈E₉,观察其免疫效力。结果表明：重组ZJ111/pcDNA3-F菌株不仅能诱导雏鸡产生抗NDV抗体,而且能诱导法氏囊B淋巴细胞和胸腺T淋巴细胞的增殖反应,对强毒株攻击的保护率为66.7%,高于pcDNA3-F裸质粒DNA疫苗注射免疫组（50%）。上述结果初步提示减毒沙门氏菌为载体传递DNA疫苗具有良好的安全性、稳定性和免疫原性,为研制低成本、实用化的口服禽类DNA疫苗奠定了基础。     

Eimeria tenella: ginsenosides-enhanced immune response to the immunization with recombinant 5401 antigen in chickens

Three-day-old specific-pathogen-free chickens were subcutaneously immunized with Eimeria tenella recombinant 5401 antigen (100 microg per chicken) with (0.25, 0.5 or 1.0mg per dose) or without ginsenosides, and boosted with the same dosage 14 days later. The chickens were challenged with 6 x 10(4) homologous sporulated oocysts 14 day after the booster. The specific antibody response and lymphocyte proliferation in response to Con A were measured before and 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 days after the immunization. Oocyst output, mortality, and lesion scores were measured to evaluate the protective effects of the immunization. The vaccine containing 0.5 or 1.0mg ginsenosides per dose induces higher antibody response and lymphocyte proliferation in response to Con A than the vaccine without ginsenosides or containing 0.25mg per dose. The oocyst output indicated that recombinant 5401 antigen with ginsenosides (0.5 and 1.0mg per dose) gave a protection rate of 59.38 and 62.5%, respectively. The lesion score in the group vaccinated with recombinant 5401 antigen with 0.5 or 1.0mg ginsenosides per dose were significantly lower than in group without ginsenosides or containing 0.25mg per dose. Therefore, we conclude that ginsenosides have strong adjuvant effects at a dose of 0.5 or 1.0mg when mixed with E. tenella recombinant 5401 antigen, and has a potential as an adjuvant in chicken vaccine.     

Prevention of lethal experimental infection of C57BL/6 mice by vaccination with Brucella abortus strain RB51 expressing Neospora caninum antigens

Bovine abortions caused by the intracellular protozoal parasite Neospora caninum are a major concern to cattle industries worldwide. A strong Th1 immune response is required for protection against N. caninum. Brucella abortus strain RB51 is currently used as a live, attenuated vaccine against bovine brucellosis. Strain RB51 can also be used as an expression vector for heterologous protein expression. In this study, putative protective antigens of N. caninum MIC1, MIC3, GRA2, GRA6 and SRS2, were expressed individually in B. abortus strain RB51. The ability of each of the recombinant RB51 strains to induce N. caninum-specific immunity was assessed in C57BL/6 mice. Mice were immunised by two i.p. inoculations, 4 weeks apart. Five weeks after the second immunisation, spleen cells from the vaccinated mice secreted high levels of IFN-gamma and IL-10 upon in vitro stimulation with N. caninum whole cell lysate antigens. N. caninum-specific antibodies of both IgG1 and IgG2a subtypes were detected in the serum of the vaccinated mice. Mice in the vaccinated and control groups were challenged with 2 x 10(7)N. caninum tachyzoites i.p. and observed for 28 days after vaccination. All unvaccinated control mice died within 7 days. Mice in the MIC1 and GRA6 vaccine groups were completely protected while the mice in the SRS2, GRA2 and MIC3 vaccinated groups were partially protected and experienced 10-50% mortality. The non-recombinant RB51 vector control group experienced an average protection of 69%. These results suggest that expression of protective antigens of N. caninum in B. abortus strain RB51 is a novel approach towards the development of a multivalent vaccine against brucellosis and neosporosis.     

减毒沙门氏菌为载体在Vero细胞中表达新城疫病毒融合蛋白

RT PCR扩增了新城疫病毒 (NDV)F4 8E9株的融合蛋白 (F)基因并插入到 pcDNA3的CMV启动子下游 ,构建成真核表达质粒pcDNA3 F ,高压电转化dam和 phoP基因双突变株减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌 (ZJ111株 ) ,并直接感染Vero细胞 ,分别提取细胞总DNA和总RNA ,DIG标记探针均可检测到阳性杂交信号。FITC标记的羊抗鸡IgG进行间接免疫荧光试验 ,可检测到特异性的黄绿色荧光。ELISA检测F蛋白结果表明 ,转染后 4 8h开始表达 ,随后逐渐增多。SDS PAGE和Western印迹可检测到 5 5kD的蛋白质条带。上述试验结果证实减毒沙门氏菌不仅可将目的基因呈递给Vero细胞 ,而且还得到了转录和表达 ,表达的F蛋白具有免疫反应性 ,为研制减毒沙门氏菌为载体的口服NDVDNA疫苗创造了条件。     

Immunisation of mice against neosporosis

In the present study a murine encephalitis model was used to investigate if protection against neosporosis could be achieved by immunisation. Groups of 10 mice were immunised with a sublethal dose of live Neospora caninum tachyzoites, N. caninum antigens incorporated into iscoms, N. caninum lysate mixed with Quil A, or N. caninum lysate in PBS. Control mice were given Quil A only. Challenge infection with 2.5x10(6) N. caninum tachyzoites resulted in clinical symptoms that remained until the end of the experiment in the controls. In contrast, mice immunised with live parasites or parasite lysate in Quil A only showed mild and transient symptoms. Of nine mice immunised with N. caninum iscoms, seven recovered while two died. Most severely affected were the mice immunised with parasite lysate only; all of them died within 28 days post-infection. Histological examination and scoring of brain lesions gave a significantly lower (P<0.0001) lesion score in mice immunised with live parasites than in controls. The groups immunised with iscoms or lysate and Quil A also had reduced lesion scores (P<0.04 and 0.07, respectively) but not the group given parasite lysate alone. The lesions seen in the latter group differed from those in the other groups. There was less cellular reaction and more tachyzoites indicating an active infection. The N. caninum specific antibody responses and cytokine production (IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-5) of splenocytes were analysed at the time of challenge infection. The results suggest a correlation between protection and high levels of IFN-gamma. Also, the immune responses recorded in mice immunised with parasite lysate without adjuvant were relatively weak and more towards the Th2 type, when compared with the other immunisation schedules. This is consistent with the weaker inflammatory response observed in the brains of these mice.     

稳定携带新城疫病毒DNA疫苗减毒沙门氏菌的构建及其免疫原性

采用PCR技术从重组质粒pVAX1-F中扩增出新城疫病毒JS5株的融合蛋白(F)基因,将其克隆入真核表达质粒pmcDNA3.1 中,获得重组表达质粒pmcDNA3.1-F.通过电穿孔转化法将重组质粒转入减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌SL7207,构建成功携带DNA疫苗的重组沙门氏菌SL7207(pmcDNA3.1-F).体内、体外试验结果表明,重组质粒pmcDNA3.1-F在沙门氏菌中的稳定性显著高于pcDNA3.1-F.将重组菌SL7207(pmcDNA3.1-F)和SL7207(pcDNA3.1-F)分别以1×109 CFU剂量两次口服免疫BALB/c小鼠,免疫小鼠可产生针对新城疫病毒F蛋白的血清抗体和黏膜抗体.重组菌以5×109 CFU剂量两次口服免疫4日龄SPF鸡,免疫鸡产生的针对新城疫病毒F蛋白的血清抗体和小肠黏膜抗体效价水平与空载体组之间存在显著性差异(P＜0.05).免疫保护试验结果显示,SL7207(pmcDNA3.1-F)和SL7207(pcDNA3.1-F)免疫组的免疫保护率均与空载体组之间存在显著性差异(P＜0.05),且SL7207(pmcDNA3.1-F)免疫组的保护率较SL7207(pcDNA3.1-F)免疫组提高了20.0%,说明稳定携带新城疫病毒DNA疫苗的减毒沙门氏菌具有良好的免疫原性和免疫保护性.     

减毒沙门氏菌为载体在Vero细胞中表达传染性法氏囊病病毒多聚蛋白基因

用长距离RT-PCR扩增了传染性法氏囊病病毒（infectious bursal disease virus, IBDV）ZJ2000株多聚蛋白基因,定向克隆入真核表达载体Pci,电转化dam^-和phoP^－双突变的减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌ZJ111株,并直接转染Vero细胞。RT-PCR和间接免疫荧光试验可从Vero细胞中检测到阳性信号,SDS-PAGE和West blotting均可检测到41kD的蛋白条带。结果表明减毒沙门氏菌可将外源基因导入Vero细胞,并进行转录和表达,具有免疫反应性,为进一步研制减毒沙门氏菌为载体的IBDV口服DNA疫苗打下基础。     

携带新城疫病毒DNA疫苗的鼠伤寒沙门氏菌及其安全性与免疫效力

根据GenBank中发表的新城疫病毒(NDV)融合蛋白(F)基因序列,设计一对引物,通过RTPCR扩增出鹅源新城疫病毒分离株JS5F基因,测序确认后,将其克隆入真核表达载体pVAX1,获得重组真核表达质粒pVAX1F。将pVAX1F转化减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌SL7207,构建成携带DNA疫苗的重组沙门氏菌SL7207(pVAX1F)。重组菌以不同剂量口服免疫1日龄雏鸡,结果表明,细菌对雏鸡具有良好的安全性,且不影响鸡的增重。将SL7207(pVAX1F)分别以108CFU和109CFU的剂量3次口服免疫1日龄商品代伊莎褐蛋鸡,抗体检测结果显示,在三免后1周,SL7207(pVAX1F)109CFU剂量组的血清抗体效价与空载体组之间存在显著性差异(p<0.05)。重组菌两个剂量组在首免后2周开始出现粘膜抗体,并于二免后2周和3周达到较高水平。免疫保护试验结果显示,SL7207(pVAX1F)109CFU剂量组的保护率为77.27%,与空载体组之间存在显著性差异(p<0.05)。     

稳定携带H5亚型禽流感病毒候选DNA疫苗减毒沙门氏菌的构建及其免疫原性

采用PCR技术从重组质粒pVAX1-HA扩增出禽流感病毒JSGO(H5N1)株的血凝素(HA)基因,将其克隆入真核表达质粒pmcDNA3.1 中,获得重组表达质粒pmcDNA3.1-HA。通过电穿孔转化法将重组质粒转入减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌SL7207*,构建成功携带DNA疫苗的重组沙门氏菌SL7207*(pmcDNA3.1-HA)。经体内体外试验证实,重组质粒pmcDNA3.1-HA在沙门氏菌中的稳定性显著高于pcDNA3.1-HA。将重组菌SL7207*(pmcDNA3.1-HA)和SL7207*(pcDNA3.1-HA)分别以2×109CFU剂量两次口服免疫BALB/c小鼠,免疫小鼠可产生针对禽流感病毒HA蛋白的黏膜抗体。重组菌以5×109CFU剂量两次口服免疫试验鸡,免疫鸡的小肠样品中可测到针对禽流感病毒HA蛋白的黏膜抗体,且SL7207*(pmcDNA3.1-HA)免疫组的抗体效价高于SL7207*(pcDNA3.1-HA)免疫组。免疫保护试验结果显示,SL7207*(pmcDNA3.1-HA)和SL7207*(pcDNA3.1-HA)免疫组的免疫保护率均与空载体组之间存在显著性差异(P<0.05),且SL7207*(pmcDNA3.1-HA)免疫组的保护率较SL7207*(pcDNA3.1-HA)免疫组提高了22.6%,说明稳定携带H5亚型禽流感病毒DNA疫苗的减毒沙门氏菌具有良好的免疫原性和免疫保护性。     

Oral and intranasal administration of somatostatin DNA vaccine mediated by attenuated Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium to promote growth of piglets

An attenuated strain of Salmonella typhimurium has been used as a carrier for oral and intranasal genetic immunization. Here, we evaluate the efficacy of a vaccine strain of S. typhimurium. CSO22 (pGM-CSF/SS, plasmid granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor/somatostatin) expressing two copies of SS genes. A total of 115 piglets, aged 2 months old, were either orally or intranasally immunized against the vaccine strain CSO22 (pGM-CSF/SS) with three dosages (5 × 10(10) colony forming units (CFU), 5 × 10(9) CFU and 5 × 10(8) CFU). For oral immunization, the specific anti-SS antibodies were detected in the immunized piglets. The levels of SS antibodies in the high-dose immunized group (5 × 10(10) CFU) were significantly higher than that in the phosphate buffered saline immunized group (P < 0.01) and 40% of animals were positive in SS antibodies in the high-dose immunized group. Moreover, the weight gain of the high-dose group was increased by 20.86%, 10.26% and 15.30% during 4, 8 and 12 weeks, respectively, after immunization in comparison to the control. For intranasal immunization, the growth of the low-dose group was increased by 10.23% in the whole test period (12 weeks). In conclusion, our results suggest that the recombinant strain could elicit anti-SS antibodies and improve the growth performance of immunized piglets, and that the oral immunization program is better than the intranasal program.     

Partial protection against Eimeria acervulina and Eimeria tenella induced by synthetic peptide vaccine

Coccidiosis is a major parasitic disease of poultry industry and an ideal vaccine should induce long-lasting cross-species protective immunity. Broiler chickens (Cobb 500) were inoculated with single, double or triple injections of a synthetic peptide (derived from sequences of Eimeria acervulina and Eimeria tenella antigens) homogenized in Freund's complete and incomplete adjuvants. The immune responses to the vaccine were assessed by evaluation of antibody and lymphocyte proliferation responses, and the degree of resistance of vaccinated chickens to challenge with sporulated oocysts of E. acervulina or E. tenella determined by comparison of their oocyst output with those of control chickens. The results indicated that the synthetic peptide vaccine induced a high level of antibody and cellular responses associated with partial cross-species protection against challenge with sporulated oocysts of E. acervulina or E. tenella.     

Structural and serological characterisation of the O-antigenic polysaccharide of the lipopolysaccharide from Acinetobacter baumannii strain 24

Extraction of dry bacteria of Acinetobacter baumannii strain 24 by phenol-water yielded a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) that was studied by serological methods and fatty acid analysis. After immunisation of BALB/c mice with this strain, monoclonal antibody S48-3-13 (IgG(3) isotype) was obtained, which reacted with the LPS in western blot and characterized it as S-form LPS. Degradation of the LPS in aqueous 1% acetic acid followed by GPC gave the O-antigenic polysaccharide, whose structure was determined by compositional analyses and NMR spectroscopy of the polysaccharide and O-deacylated polysaccharide as [carbohydrate structure: see text] where QuiN4N is 2,4-diamino-2,4,6-trideoxyglucose and GalNAcA 2-acetamido-2-deoxygalacturonic acid. The amino group at C-4 of the QuipN4N residues is acetylated in about 2/3 of LPS molecules and (S)-3-hydroxybutyrylated in the rest.     

重组质粒在减毒沙门氏菌中的稳定性及其对细菌侵袭力的影响

将含有外源基因的重组真核表达质粒pcDNA3-F和pCI-F转化减毒鼠伤寒门氏菌,探讨质粒类型和插入片段对重组质粒在细菌内的稳定性和细菌侵袭力的影响。结果表明,外源质粒可降低减毒沙门氏菌在体外的增殖能力和侵袭力,也影响细菌在鸡体内的存活力;就质粒类型而言,pCI的影响大于pcDNA3,而以携带外源基因的重组质粒影响较为显著;外源基因插入也影响质粒在宿主菌内的稳定性。提示利用减毒鼠伤寒沙门氏菌为载体传递DNA疫苗研究时,要考虑质粒类型与其在宿主菌内稳定性的关系、携带外源基因重组质粒对载体菌侵袭力和存活力的影响等问题。     

Freeze-drying of live attenuated Vibrio anguillarum mutant for vaccine preparation

Vibrio anguillarum MVAV6203 is a mutant strain as a candidate of live attenuated vaccine. In vaccine preparation, the freeze-drying conditions of the strain were investigated to improve the survival after freeze-drying, including the protectant, rehydration medium, freezing temperature, and initial cell concentration. Vibrio anguillarum MVAV6203 is sensitive to freeze-drying and the viability was only 0.03% in the absence of protectant. Of the tested protectants, 5% trehalose with 15% skimmed milk gave the highest viability of 34.2%. Higher cell survival was obtained by quick freezing at -80 degrees C than slow freezing at -20 degrees C. Initial cell concentration was another important factor, preferable for 1-3 x 10(10)CFU/ml. The supplementation of 10% skimmed milk in rehydration medium improved obviously freeze-drying viability. The combination of the optimal conditions achieved 51.4% cell viability after freeze-drying.     

Eimeria tenella: construction of a recombinant fowlpox virus expressing rhomboid gene and its protective efficacy against homologous infection

A recombinant fowlpox virus (rFPV) expressing the Eimeria tenella rhomboid gene was constructed and its protective efficacy against homologous infection in chickens determined. Three-day-old-specific pathogen free (SPF) chickens were immunized s.c. with 10(2) plaque forming units (PFU), 10(4) PFU, or 10(6) PFU of rFPV-rhomboid, and challenged with 5x10(4) homologous sporulated oocysts 14 days post-immunization (p.i.). The specific antibody response and lymphocyte proliferation were measured 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks p.i. Oocyst output, body weight gains and lesion scores were measured to evaluate the protective effects of immunization. rFPV-rhomboid elicited a specific humoral immune response and stimulated proliferation of peripheral blood lymphocytes. The lesion scores in groups vaccinated with rFPV-rhomboid were significantly higher than in other groups. At the same time, rFPV-rhomboid improved body weight significantly compared with other groups. Immunization with rFPV-rhomboid reduced oocyst shedding significantly, resulting in a protection rate of 39.6%, 41.1% or 41.7% given a dose of 10(2) PFU, 10(4) PFU, or 10(6) PFU of rFPV-rhomboid, respectively. These results indicated that rFPV can induce immune responses and offer partial protection of chickens against E. tenella challenge.     

Local and systemic immune response in rabbits after intraintestinal immunization with a double-marker attenuated strain of Salmonella typhimurium

Local and systemic immune response was studied in 3 groups of rabbits immunized and reimmunized 190 days later with S. typhimurium double-marker attenuated strain 1,771 and doses ranged from 20.10(9) to 0.2.10(9) cells. Another group of rabbits was immunized with extract (hydroxylammine) vaccine. It was found that the attenuated strain persisted for considerable time in the gut, and induced pronounced and continuous immune response as measured by the passive hemagglutination test. The serum antibody response had the character of a secondary one with switching on the synthesis of IgM to IgG already after basic immunisation. By the Coombs' technique it was shown that specific immunoglobulins demonstrated in feces were secretory antibodies of the class IgA (SIgA). The immune response developed after reimmunization was still more vigorous and prolonged pointing to an immune memory existance. It was possible to obtain well manifested immunity with the lowest dose. The extract vaccine revealed only weak and transitory serum and intestinal antibody levels without SIgA appearance. The results obtained in this setup make S. typhimurium 1771 a perspective candidate for a live vaccine.     

Monospecies and multispecies probiotic formulations produce different systemic and local immunostimulatory effects in the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.)

The effects of the oral administration of heat-inactivated Lactobacillus delbrüeckii ssp. lactis and Bacillus subtilis, individually or combined, on gilthead seabream immune responses were investigated both systemically and locally in the gut. In a first experiment, seabream (65 g) were fed for 3 weeks different diets supplemented with 1 x 10(7)CFU g(-1)Lactobacillus, 1 x 10(7)CFU g(-1)Bacillus, or 0.5 x 10(7)CFU g(-1)Lactobacillus plus 0.5 x 10(7)CFU g(-1)Bacillus. Controls were fed non-supplemented diet. Six fish per group were sampled at the end of the trial and some humoral and cellular systemic innate immune parameters were evaluated. Feeding the mixture of the two killed bacteria species significantly increased natural complement, serum peroxidase and phagocytic activities compared with controls. In a second experiment, juvenile seabream (13 g) were fed for 3 weeks the same experimental diets and total serum IgM and numbers of gut IgM(+) cells and acidophilic granulocytes were evaluated. All these parameters were significantly higher in the multispecies probiotic group compared to monospecies and control fed groups. The advantages provided by administration of killed probiotic bacteria as well as multispecies versus monospecies formulations are discussed in light of the results obtained and for their possible application in aquacultural practices.     

Toxoplasma gondii Protein Disulfide Isomerase (TgPDI) Is a Novel Vaccine Candidate against Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous protozoan parasite that can infect all warm-blooded animals, including both mammals and birds. Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) localises to the surface of T. gondii tachyzoites and modulates the interactions between parasite and host cells. In this study, the protective efficacy of recombinant T. gondii PDI (rTgPDI) as a vaccine candidate against T. gondii infection in BALB/c mice was evaluated. rTgPDI was expressed and purified from Escherichia coli. Five groups of animals (10 animals/group) were immunised with 10, 20, 30, 40 μg of rTgPDI per mouse or with PBS as a control group. All immunisations were performed via the nasal route at 1, 14 and 21 days. Two weeks after the last immunisation, the immune responses were evaluated by lymphoproliferative assays and by cytokine and antibody measurements. The immunised mice were challenged with tachyzoites of the virulent T. gondii RH strain on the 14th day after the last immunisation. Following the challenge, the tachyzoite loads in tissues were assessed, and animal survival time was recorded. Our results showed that the group immunised with 30 μg rTgPDI showed significantly higher levels of specific antibodies against the recombinant protein, a strong lymphoproliferative response and significantly higher levels of IgG2a, IFN-gamma (IFN-γ), IL-2 and IL-4 production compared with other doses and control groups. While no changes in IL-10 levels were detected. After being challenged with T. gondii tachyzoites, the numbers of tachyzoites in brain and liver tissues from the rTgPDI group were significantly reduced compared with those of the control group, and the survival time of the mice in the rTgPDI group was longer than that of mice in the control group. Our results showed that immunisation with rTgPDI elicited a protective immune reaction and suggested that rTgPDI might represent a promising vaccine candidate for combating toxoplasmosis.     

Genetically attenuated P36p-deficient Plasmodium berghei sporozoites confer long-lasting and partial cross-species protection

Immunisation with live, radiation-attenuated sporozoites (RAS) or genetically attenuated sporozoites (GAS) of rodent plasmodial parasites protects against subsequent challenge infections. We recently showed that immunisation with Plasmodium berghei GAS that lack the microneme protein P36p protects mice for a period of up to 4 months. Here, we show that the period of full protection induced by p36p(-)-sporozoites lasts 12 and 18 months in C57Bl6 and BALB/c mice, respectively. Full protection is also achieved with three doses of only 1000 p36p(-) (but not RAS) sporozoites. Subcutaneous, intradermal or intramuscular routes of administration also lead to partial protection. In addition, immunisation with either P. berghei RAS- or, to a lesser extent, p36p(-)-sporozoites inhibits parasite intrahepatic development in mice challenged with Plasmodium yoelii sporozoites. Since naturally acquired malaria infections or subunit-based vaccines only induce short-term immune responses, the protection conferred by immunisation with p36p(-)-sporozoites described here further emphasises the potential of GAS as a vaccination strategy for malaria.