Suppression of adaptive immunity to heterologous antigens by SJ16 of Schistosoma japonicum

Despite the great effort that has been given to control the disease, schistosomiasis remains the most important human helminth infection in terms of morbidity and mortality. Natural infection of schistosomes induces very little protective immunity against reinfection. Moreover, effective schistosome vaccines for practical use have not been developed. These parasites appear to have evolved highly effective modulatory mechanisms on their host's immune system that promote the parasites' survival and also hinder the development of effective strategies for treatment of the disease. Understanding of the mechanisms of schistosome-mediated immune modulation would be most helpful in schistosomiasis prevention and control. Previously, we have identified from Schistosoma japonicum an anti-inflammatory protein, Sj16, which suppresses thioglycollate-induced peritoneal inflammation in BALB/c mice, as well as thioglycollate-mediated peritoneal macrophage maturation, while modulating cytokine and chemokine production from peritoneal cells. In the present study, we have further investigated the modulatory effect of Sj16 on the host's adaptive immunity to heterologous antigens with the use of recombinant Sj16 (rSj16) expressed and purified from Escherichia coli . Results from this study indicate that rSj16 significantly suppresses antibody production, in addition to Th1 and Th2 responses to heterologous antigens in the BALB/c mouse model. Our study also reveals that rSj16 suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced major histocompatibility complex II expression and IL-12 production, while increasing IL-10 production in resident peritoneal macrophages. These results may partially explain why parasite-related antigens cannot mount a protective immunity during early stages of schistosome infection.     

Expression, purification, and human antibody response to a 67 kDa vaccine candidate for schistosomiasis japonica

Schistosomiasis remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing tropical world, and vaccines to prevent these infections remain a scientific and public health priority. Sj67 is a 67 kDa Schistosoma japonicum surface membrane protein homologous to a family of actin-binding proteins. Sj67 is recognized by a mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb 6) that confers resistance to challenge infection in passive transfer experiments. These data support Sj67 as a potential vaccine candidate for schistosomiasis japonica. In the present study, we report the ligation-independent cloning of a cDNA encoding thioredoxin/elastin-like polypeptide (ELP)/rSj67 into a pET-32 Xa/LIC vector. Soluble recombinant fusion protein (Thio-ELP-rSj67) was expressed and purified using anion-exchange and size exclusion chromatography. rSj67 was cleaved from the Thio-ELP fusion partner by digestion with Factor Xa protease and purified using hydroxyapatite column chromatography. Endotoxin was reduced by absorption to a polymyxin support. Purified rSj67 had a molecular weight of 67 kDa and N-terminal sequencing confirmed that the first five amino acids of the recombinant protein matched the predicted sequence for the Sj67 gene. In Western blot analysis, rSj67 was recognized by the Sj67 specific mAb 6 antibody. IgG antibodies in sera from schistosomiasis infected volunteers living in an endemic area of the Philippines (n = 13) recognized rSj67 with 4.7-fold greater median fluorescence compared to uninfected North American controls (n = 5) (p < 0.009). Together, these data confirm the expression and purification of recombinant Sj67 and its immuno-reactivity with sera from S. japonicum infected humans.     

日本血吸虫中国大陆株26kD GST基因在大肠杆菌中的高效表达

用大肠杆菌高效表达日本血吸虫中国大陆株 2 6k D GST基因 (Sj2 6)并观察表达产物诱导的免疫保护效果 .将 Sj2 6基因亚克隆至 p ET2 8b(+)中构建重组表达质粒 Sj2 6/ p ET,转化大肠杆菌 BL 2 1 (DE3) .Sj2 6在诱导条件下及未诱导条件下均获得高效表达 .表达产物 (r Sj2 6GST)以包含体形式表达 ,分子量为 2 8k D左右 ,能用 6× His亲和层析柱纯化 ,纯化产量为 55～ 60 mg/ L大肠杆菌培养物 .免疫印迹及 ELSA实验证实 r Sj2 6GST具有良好抗原性 .用 r Sj2 6GST不加佐剂直接背部皮下免疫昆明系小鼠 ,获得了 1 9.6% (P<0 .0 5)的减虫率及 31 .9% (P<0 .0 5)的成熟虫体减虫率 ;且免疫组检获的虫体中未成熟虫体的比例为 32 % (66/ 2 0 6) ,明显高于对照组的 1 9.6% (56/2 85) (P<0 .0 1 ) ,说明 r Sj2 6GST免疫不仅可诱导抗日本血吸虫的部分攻击感染作用 ,而且能抑制部分虫体的发育 .     

日本血吸虫新基因Sj-MA的克隆、表达及保护性免疫

为发现新基因 ,寻找日本血吸虫病新疫苗候选分子 ,采用Sj雄虫免疫血清筛选Sj成虫cDNA文库。经测序发现新基因Sj MA含有一个完整的阅读框 ,推测其由 2 4 9个氨基酸组成 ,编码分子量为 2 8.8kD的可溶性蛋白质 ,并带有多个能被磷酸化激活的位点 ,提示其可能为一重要的信息传递分子。将Sj MA的cDNA亚克隆至原核表达载体pGEX 5X ,获得Sj MA原核表达的重组体rSj MA/GST ,并在E .coli中高效表达为谷胱甘肽S 转移酶 (GST)融合蛋白 ,分子量为 5 4 .8kD ,Western印迹显示融合蛋白质能被抗雄虫和抗GST血清识别。融合蛋白质免疫小鼠可诱导 34.2 9%的减虫率 ,与对照组有显著性差异 (P <0 .0 0 1 )。表明新基因Sj MA表达的蛋白质能诱导小鼠的抗日本血吸虫的保护性免疫 ,提示其作为日本血吸虫疫苗候选分子的潜在价值     

日本血吸虫中国大陆株抱雌沟蛋白编码基因的克隆和表达

根据曼氏血吸虫抱雌沟蛋白SmGcp序列和日本血吸虫编码抱雌沟蛋白保守区的基因片段jGcp1分别设计三对引物,以日本血吸虫中国大陆株成虫mRNA为模板 ,用RT－PCR法扩增出大小为1949bp的基因片段。经序列分析推断该基因片段含编码日本血吸虫抱雌沟蛋白基因的阅读框,与SmGcp碱基一致性为85％,其理论推测氨基酸组成与曼氏血吸虫抱雌沟蛋白的一致性为83．7％。将上述扩增的基因片段克隆到表达载体pET28c( )中,在大肠杆菌BL21中获得表达,融合表达产物分子量约为80kD。利用日本血吸虫成虫抗原免疫血清对该表达产物进行Western印迹检测,在预测位置出现了明显的识别条带,说明该编码日本血吸虫中国大陆株抱雌沟蛋白基因的表达产物具有抗原性。     

Serologic reactivities of the 23-kDa integral membrane proteins of schistosomes.

The 23-kDa integral membrane proteins of Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma japonicum (Sm23 and Sj23) are Ag of some interest in terms of both antiparasite vaccination and immunodiagnosis. We have raised an antiserum against a recombinant fusion protein expressing the extracellular hydrophyllic domain of Sm23 (Sm23HD-pGEX) and used this serum, as well as other antibody reagents reacting with Sm/Sj23, in immunochemical analyses. The immunogenicity and antigenicity of Sm23HD-pGEX, and the surprising lack of cross-reactivity between Sm23 and Sj23 support the hypothesis that Sm/Sj23 are host-like molecules with a very limited number of B cell epitopes that are likely to reside in the extracellular hydrophilic domain. We also present evidence that, unlike the highly immunogenic Sj23, Sm23 is not immunogenic in chronically infected mice. Moreover, we confirm a surface location for Sj23 in adult worms, in S. japonicum.     

日本血吸虫中国大陆株21.7kD蛋白编码基因的克隆和表达

根据日本血吸虫菲律宾株编码21.7kD蛋白的基因设计引物,以日本血吸虫中国大陆株成虫mRNA为模板,用RT-PCR法扩增出大小为558bp的基因片段。经序列分析推断该基因片段为编码日本血吸虫中国大陆株21.7kD蛋白基因的完整阅读框,与菲律宾株该基因的碱基序列同源性为98%。将其克隆到表达载体pET28a(+)中,在大肠杆菌BL21中获得表达,融合表达产物分子量约为25.4kD。利用日本血吸虫成虫抗原免疫血清对该表达产物进行Western印迹检测,在预测位置出现了明显的识别条带,说明该基因的表达产物具有抗原性。     

Expression, immunolocalization and serodiagnostic value of a myophilin-like protein from Schistosoma japonicum

The cDNA of a Schistosoma japonicum myophilin-like protein was cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli as a recombined protein (rSj myophilin-like protein), and the protein was purified by affinity chromatography. The deduced amino acid sequences of the Sj myophilin-like protein showed significant homology to myophilin, calponin, Np22 and Mp20. Northern blot and RT-PCR analyzes revealed expression of the Sj myophilin-like protein mRNA in eggs, sporocysts, cercariae, hepatic schistosomula and adult worms. Confocal fluorescence microscopy localized the native protein to the muscle of the adult worm. In schistosome-infected rabbits, the rSj myophilin-like protein antibody level, assessed by ELISA, was elevated after infection but was reduced after praziquantel treatment. In humans, the myophilin-like protein antibody level was evaluated by ELISA in sera from 33 non-infected humans and 61 schistosomiasis patients; the results showed a highly significant difference between the two groups with a sensitivity of 57.4%. Taken together, the myophilin-like protein may prove useful for monitoring the therapeutic effect of praziquantel rather than in serodiagnosis of schistosomiasis.     

Identification of immunodominant Th1-type T cell epitopes from Schistosoma japonicum 28 kDa glutathione-S-transferase, a vaccine candidate

Th1-type cytokines produced by the stimulation of Th 1-type epitopes derived from defined schistosome-associated antigens are correlated with the development of resistance to the parasite infection. Schistosoma mansoni 28 kDa glutathione-S-transferase （Sm28GST）, a major detoxification enzyme, has been recognized as a vaccine candidate and a phase II clinical trial has been carried out. Sheep immunized with recombinant Schistosoma japonicum 28GST （Sj28GST） have shown immune protection against the parasite infection. In the present study, six candidate peptides （P1, P2, P3, P4, P7 and P8） from Sj28GST were predicted, using software, to be T cell epitopes, and peptides P5 and P6 were designed by extending five amino acids at the N-terminal and C-terminal of P1, respectively. The peptide 190-211 aa in Sj28GST corresponding to the Th1-type epitope （190-211 aa） identified from Sm28GST was selected and named P9. The nine candidate peptides were synthesized or produced as the fusion protein with thioredoxin in the pET32c（＋）/BL21（DE3） system. Their capacity to induce a Th1-type response in vitro was measured using lymphocyte proliferation, cytokine detection experiments and flow cytometry. The results showed that P6 （73-86 aa） generated the strongest stimulation effect on T cells among the nine candidate peptides, and drove the highest level of IFN-γ, and IL-2. Therefore, P6 is a functional Thl-type T cell epitope that is different from that in Sm28GST, and will be useful for the development of effective vaccines which can trigger acquired immunity against S. japonicum. Moreover, our strategy of identifying the Thl-type epitope by a combination of software prediction and experimental confirmation provides a convenient and cost-saving alternative approach to previous methods.     

Cloning and characterization of a Schistosoma mansoni 1H and 30S clones as two tegumental vaccine candidate antigens

Two Schistosoma mansoni cDNA clones 30S and 1H were identified by immunoscreening of sporocyst lambdagt11 library and by random sequencing of clones from lambdaZap libraries, respectively. Clone 30S was one of 30 clones identified by an antibody raised against tegument of 3-h schistosomules. The clone was found to encode an 81 amino-acid protein fragment. It was expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein of calculated molecular mass of about 35 kDa with C-terminus of Schistosoma japonicum glutathione-S-transferase (Sj26; about 26 kDa). The recombinant fusion protein was specifically recognized by serum of rabbits immunized with irradiated cercariae. Clone 1H is one of 76 expressed sequence tags derived from an adult worm library. It encodes the complete sequence of a tegumental membrane protein, Sm13. The 104 amino-acid open reading frame encodes a protein with a calculated molecular mass of about 11.9 kDa. Clone 1H was expressed in E. coli as an insoluble fusion protein with Sj26 of about 40 kDa. In Western blots, the fusion protein was recognized by serum from rabbits vaccinated with irradiated cercariae but not by preimmune rabbit sera. The cloning, characterization and expression of those proteins are therefore potentially usefull for vaccine development.     

HSP70基因上游调控序列对GST基因在耻垢分枝杆菌中表达效率的 影响

将外源基因———日本血吸虫２６ｋＤ抗原（Ｓｊ２６ＧＳＴ）基因克隆到大肠杆菌分枝杆菌穿梭质粒中,构建成四个不同的表达截体,研究它们在耻垢后分枝杆菌（Ｍｙｃｏｂａｃｔｅｒｉｕｍｓｍｅｇｍａｔｉｓ）中的表达效率。首先将含有结核杆菌热休克蛋白７０（ＨｅａｔＳｈｏｃｋＰｒｏｔｅｉｎ,ＨＳＰ７０）的启动子的质粒ｐＭＴ７０用ＮｃｏＩ切,进行两种不同的修饰后,得到不同的ＳＤ序列;将Ｓｊ２６ＧＳＴ基因克隆进去。再将含ＨＳＰ７０启动子和Ｓｊ２６ＧＳＴ基因的片段切下,克隆到分枝杆菌大肠杆菌穿梭质粒ｐＢＣＧ２０００中,筛选出不同ＳＤ序列、不同方向和不同拷贝数的分枝杆菌表达载体四个。所表达的重组天然Ｓｊ２６ＧＳＴ（ｒＳｊ２６ＧＳＴ）为可溶性蛋白,在ＳＤＳＰＡＧＥ上分子量为２６ｋＤ处可见明显的表达蛋白带。通过薄层扫描分析,发现表达质粒中双拷贝启动子外源基因组合,表达效率最高,是单拷贝组合的１６倍,占分枝杆菌菌体总蛋白的２８％。而不同的克隆方向和不同的ＳＤ序列（两者相差３个碱基）对表达效率的影响不明显。     

日本血吸虫中国株次黄嘌呤鸟嘌呤磷酸核糖转移酶的克隆、表达及其免疫保护性研究

根据基因库中日本血吸虫次黄嘌呤鸟嘌呤磷酸核糖转移酶 (HGPRT) EST (BU803192) 以及日本血吸虫成虫cDNA文库载体λgt11多克隆位点邻近核苷酸序列设计引物,以日本血吸虫成虫cDNA文库为模板,采用锚式PCR对SjHGPRT基因不完整的3′端和5′端进行扩增、测序,用电子软件拼接,获得SjHGPRT全长cDNA (1 270 bp),经序列分析,推断该片段含有编码SjHGPRT基因的完整阅读框,其编码基因与曼氏血吸虫次黄嘌呤鸟嘌呤磷酸核糖转移酶 (SmHGPRT) 全长编码基因碱基一致性为82%,其理论推导的氨基酸组成与曼氏血吸虫次黄嘌呤鸟嘌呤磷酸核糖转移酶的一致性约为83%. 将其编码基因克隆到表达载体pQE30上,在大肠杆菌M15中获得准确、高效表达,表达产物分子质量约为28 ku. 用日本血吸虫成虫抗原免疫血清对表达产物进行蛋白质印迹检测,在预测位置上出现明显的识别条带. 重组蛋白动物免疫保护性结果显示：在虫荷、每克肝卵、每克粪卵和雌子宫内卵数方面,疫苗组与对照组比较差异均具有显著性 (P < 0.05,P < 0.01). 结果表明,日本血吸虫次黄嘌呤鸟嘌呤磷酸核糖转移酶 (SjHGPRT) 全长cDNA成功克隆并在大肠菌中得到表达,表达产物具有良好的抗原性和动物免疫保护效果,是一种潜在的具有部分免疫保护性的抗血吸虫病疫苗候选分子.     

日本血吸虫26kD抗原基因在BCG中的表达

研究了外源基因日本血吸虫２６ｋＤ抗原（Ｓｊ２６ＧＳＴ）在卡介苗（ｂａｃｉｌｕｓＣａｌｍｅｔｅ－Ｇｕｅｒｉｎ,ＢＣＧ）、耻垢分枝杆菌（Ｍ．ｓｍｅｇｍａｔｉｓ）和大肠杆菌（Ｅ．ｃｏｌｉ）中的表达．运用重组ＤＮＡ和聚合酶链反应（ＰＣＲ）等分子生物学技术,以表达Ｓｊ２６ＧＳＴ的Ｅ．ｃｏｌｉｐＧＥＸ衍生质粒为模板,经ＰＣＲ得到编码Ｓｊ２６ＧＳＴ的全长ｃＤＮＡ片段．将其按正确的阅读框顺序,克隆到人结核杆菌热休克蛋白（ｈｅａｔｓｈｏｃｋｐｒｏｔｅｉｎ,ＨＳＰ）７０的启动子下游,再将ＨＳＰ７０启动子和Ｓｊ２６ＧＳＴ基因一起亚克隆到Ｅ．ｃｏｌｉ－分枝杆菌穿梭质粒ｐＢＣＧ－２０００中,得到Ｅ．ｃｏｌｉ－分枝杆菌穿梭表达质粒ｐＢＣＧ－Ｓｊ２６．ｐＢＣＧ－Ｓｊ２６电转化入ＢＣＧ和Ｍ．ｓｍｅｇｍａｔｉｓｍｃ２１５５中表达Ｓｊ２６ＧＳＴ抗原,所表达的天然重组Ｓｊ２６ＧＳＴ（ｒＳｊ２６ＧＳＴ）为可溶性蛋白,在ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ上分子量为２６ｋＤ处可见明显的表达蛋白带．其表达量分别占ＢＣＧ和Ｍ．ｓｍｅｇｍａｔｉｓ菌体总蛋白的１５％和１０％．可见,Ｓｊ２６ＧＳＴ基因能在ＢＣＧ中高效表达．     

日本血吸虫中国大陆株22.6kD膜相关蛋白基因的克隆及其在大肠杆菌中的高效表达

以日本血吸虫ｍＲＮＡ为模板,用ＲＴＰＣＲ法快速克隆到一大小约６００ｂｐ的ＤＮＡ片段,ＤＮＡ序列分析证实,所扩增到的ＤＮＡ片段中含有日本血吸虫２２６膜相关蛋白（Ｓｊ２２６（Ｃｈ））基因,将该基因重组到表达型质粒ｐＧＥＸ４Ｔ中,表达的ＧＳＴ融合蛋白分子量约４８ｋＤ,用谷胱甘肽琼脂糖凝胶亲和层析柱纯化的重组蛋白不仅纯度好,而且得率高,纯化产量可达４０ｍｇ／Ｌ培养物,免疫试验结果表明该重组蛋白具有良好的抗原性,为其在血吸虫病抗感染中的免疫作用研究创造了条件。     

Clonorchis sinensis: expression, characterization, immunolocalization and serological reactivity of one excretory/secretory antigen-LPAP homologue

From a Clonorchis sinensis adult cDNA plasmid library, a cDNA clone encoding a novel lysophosphatidic acid phosphatase (LPAP) homologue was isolated. The predicted molecular weight of putative protein was 48.8 kDa and the deduced amino acid sequence had 45%, 32%, and 29% identity with LPAP of Schistosoma japonicum, Danio rerio, and Homo sapiens, respectively. Prediction of signal peptide and Western blot analysis indicated that the CsLPAP homologue was an excretory-secretory antigen (ES antigen) of C. sinensis. Immunostaining revealed that the CsLPAP was markedly localized in the intestinal cecum, seminal receptacle and eggs of the adult worm. The recombinant CsLPAP showed slightly higher sensitivity (82.14%) and specificity (85.86%) than the crude worm antigen by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), a result which suggested that the recombinant antigen might be valuable in the serodiagnosis of human clonorchiasis.     

日本血吸虫SjIrV1的基因特性及免疫保护效果

钙结合蛋白是日本血吸虫生长发育不可缺少的蛋白,具有非常广泛而重要的功能.在课题组日本血吸虫体被表膜蛋白研究基础上,利用PCR技术克隆了中国大陆株日本血吸虫66 kDa钙结合蛋白(SjIrV1)编码基因的cDNA序列,BLAST分析与菲律宾株日本血吸虫SjIrV1 cDNA编码序列一致,荧光定量PCR分析表明该基因在童虫和成虫期不同发育阶段均有表达,其中在35d和42d成虫中表达量较高,在42d雌虫中该基因表达水平远高于42d雄虫.构建重组表达质粒pET28a(+)-SjIrV1,在大肠杆菌中成功诱导表达,重组蛋白主要以可溶性形式存在,通过高效液相色谱法(RP-HPLC)以及串联质谱法(MS/MS)鉴定所获蛋白为目的蛋白SjIrV1.蛋白质印迹(Western blotting)分析结果显示重组蛋白能被感染日本血吸虫鼠血清和免疫鼠血清所识别,SjIrV1蛋白在虫体各发育阶段中均表达.免疫荧光染色实验观察表明SjIrV1主要分布在日本血吸虫成虫的表膜.应用重组蛋白免疫BALB/c小鼠后,免疫鼠血清中检测到较高水平的特异性IgG、IgG1和IgG2a抗体.结果表明SjIrV1可能在日本血吸虫的生长发育过程中起着重要作用.     

Schistosoma mekongi: a prominent neutrophil chemotactic activity of egg antigen with reference to that of Schistosoma japonicum

Schistosoma mekongi causes granulomatous lesions around eggs deposited in the liver with neutrophil-rich inflammatory reactions in the early stage of the egg laying. To define the aspects of the typical pathogenesis of S. mekongi infection, we determined the difference between soluble egg antigen (SEA) from S. mekongi and S. japonicum with a focus on chemotactic factors for neutrophils or eosinophils. Mean volume and protein amount of S. mekongi eggs was 71 and 58% of those of Schistosoma japonicum eggs, respectively. Neutrophil chemotactic activity of S. mekongi SEA was about two times higher than that of S. japonicum. In contrast, eosinophil chemotactic activity of S. mekongi SEA was about half of that of S. japonicum SEA. Molecular analysis revealed that S. mekongi SEA contains higher molecular-weight components with a lower level of glycosylation, and this is likely to be related to the intense neutrophil chemotactic activity in comparison with S. japonicum SEA. The prominent chemotactic reactivity for neutrophils is likely to be involved in the typical pathogenesis of mekongi schistosomiasis.     

日本血吸虫重组信号蛋白14—3—3的纯化及单克隆抗体的制备

纯化日本血吸虫（中国大陆株）重组信号蛋白（rSj14—3—3）,并制备其单克隆抗体。以纯化后的rsj14-3—3蛋白为抗原免疫Balb／c小鼠,用杂交瘤技术制备抗rSj14-3-3的单克隆抗体,并通过ELISA方法和Westernblotting测定抗体的效价与特异性。获得了大量高纯度的rSj14-3-3蛋白：筛选出了能够稳定分泌抗rSj14．3．3单抗的杂交瘤细胞株3H6。单抗亚型为IgG1。实验依靠大肠杆菌表达系统高效表达了rSj14—3—3蛋白,并利用该蛋白制备了单克隆抗体．可用于今后血吸虫病免疫诊断的实验研究。     

Cloning and molecular characterization of calpain, a calcium-activated neutral proteinase, from different strains of Schistosoma japonicum

cDNA coding for calpain of Schistosoma japonicum were cloned and sequenced, and serological basis of host responses to calpain were analyzed. cDNA of calpain from S. japonicum of two different isolates, Yamanashi strain (Sj-J) and Hunan strain (Sj-C), were 2, 468 bp and 2, 465 bp in length, including the same number (2, 274) of open reading frame. Nucleotide sequence and amino acid sequence between the two calpains are 99.1% and 98.8% identity, respectively. Sj-J and Sj-C calpains were considered to be translated as a preproenzyme, and a 746-amino acid mature enzyme contains eight motifs without a signal peptide at the N-terminal based on the deduced amino acid sequences. mRNA for calpain were detectable in different developmental stages, however, sera obtained from mice immunized with recombinant calpain showed enhanced binding to cercarial antigen. Human sera from S. japonicum-infected individuals recognized the large subunit of schistosomal calpain, and light-infected sera showed stronger reactivities to the recombinant calpain than moderate/high infection cases. When we tested synthetic peptides, there were four common human B cell epitopes in schistosomal calpain, all of which are shared with S. mansoni. Together with these results, calpain of S. japonicum seems to be not only a vaccine candidate, but also a target antigen for immunodiagnosis of human schistosomiasis.