Cultivation of Eimeria tenella in Japanese quail embryos (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

Complete development of Eimeria tenella in Japanese quail embryos was observed. Sporozoites were inoculated into the allantoic cavity of 7-day-old Japanese quail embryos (Coturnix coturnix japonica), after which the infected embryos were incubated at 41 C. In the chorioallantoic membrane mature first generation schizonts, mature second generation schizonts, and gametes were detected at 48 hr postinoculation of sporozoites (PI), 84 hr PI, and 126 hr PI, respectively. Mature gametes and zygotes were found at 132 hr PI, and oocysts were detected at 138 hr PI. Mortality of embryos increased with increment of inoculum size of sporozoites. LD50 was 1.7 x 10(2) sporozoites. Oocyst production was also dependent on inoculum size. Oocysts harvested from embryos sporulated. The oocysts were inoculated into 13-day-old chickens, and oocysts, capable of sporulating normally, were recovered from ceca 7 days after inoculation.     

piggyBac transposon-mediated transgenesis in the apicomplexan parasite Eimeria tenella

piggyBac, a type II transposon that is useful for efficient transgenesis and insertional mutagenesis, has been used for effective and stable transfection in a wide variety of organisms. In this study we investigate the potential use of the piggyBac transposon system for forward genetics studies in the apicomplexan parasite Eimeria tenella. Using the restriction enzyme-mediated integration (REMI) method, E. tenella sporozoites were electroporated with a donor plasmid containing the enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) gene flanked by piggyBac inverted terminal repeats (ITRs), an Asc I-linearized helper plasmid containing the transposase gene and the restriction enzyme Asc I. Subsequently, electroporated sporozoites were inoculated into chickens via the cloacal route and transfected progeny oocysts expressing EYFP were sorted by flow cytometry. A transgenic E. tenella population was selected by successive in vivo passage. Southern-blotting analysis showed that exogenous DNA containing the EYFP gene was integrated into the parasite genome at a limited number of integration sites and that the inserted part of the donor plasmid was the fragment located between the 5' and 3' ITRs as indicated by primer-specific PCR screening. Genome walking revealed that the insertion sites were TTAA-specific, which is consistent with the transposition characteristics of piggyBac.     

Localization of a low molecular weight antigen of Eimeria tenella by use of hybridoma antibodies.

Three monoclonal antibodies (Mabs), found by western blot analysis to recognize 10-kDa bands of Eimeria tenella sporozoite preparations, were used with immunoelectron (IE) microscopy, immunogold-silver staining (IGSS), and indirect immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) light microscopy to determine the location and distribution of the antigens in or on extra- and intracellular parasites. All 3 of the Mabs (designated C3, E5, and 1231) were found by IE microscopy to label amylopectin granules of extracellular sporozoites. Additionally, these Mabs extensively gold-labeled the sporocyst wall. In cultured primary chicken kidney cells inoculated with sporozoites of E. tenella, IGSS showed surface labeling of the parasite and intense labeling of the infected host cells by 6 hr postinoculation (PI). At 24 hr PI, host cell vacuoles in infected and uninfected cells were labeled by the 3 Mabs by IFA. The E5 and C3 Mabs also were seen to label the host cell membrane of newly infected cells. The C3 and 1231 Mabs showed little label of the host cells by 48 hr PI, but the parasites still were labeled up to 96 hr PI. The E5 Mab had intense IFA labeling of infected host cells at 48 hr PI. The results of this study indicate that parasites apparently release antigenic material during the early stages of parasite development and that this material is found internally and/or on the surface of the infected host cells.     

Development of Eimeria tenella in MDBK cell culture with a note on enhancing effect of preincubation with chicken spleen cells

Eimeria tenella, an intracellular protozoan parasite infecting the epithelial cells of the ceca of chickens, causes severe diarrhea and bleeding that can lead its host to death. It is of interest that E. tenella first penetrate into the mucosal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) before they parasitize crypt or villous epithelial cells. This in vitro study was undertaken to know whether the penetration of E. tenella into such a lymphoid cell is a beneficial step for the parasite survival and development. Three sequential experiments were performed. First, the in vitro established bovine kidney cell line, MDBK cells, were evaluated for use as host cells for E. tenella, through morphological observation. Second, the degree of parasite development and multiplication in MDBK cells was quantitatively assayed using radioisotope-labelled uracil (3H-uracil). Third, the E. tenella sporozoites viability was assayed after preincubation of them with chicken spleen cells. E. tenella o?cysts obtained from the ceca of the infected chickens were used for the source of the sporozoites. Spleen cells (E) obtained from normal chickens (FP strain) were preincubated with the sporozoites (T) at the E:T ratio of 100:1, 50:1 or 25:1 for 4 or 12 hours, and then the mixture was inoculated into the MDBK cell monolayer. Morphologically the infected MDBK cells revealed active schizogonic cycle of E. tenella in 3-4 days, which was characterized by the appearance of trophozoites, and immature and mature schizonts containing merozoites. The 3H-uracil uptake by E. tenella increased gradually in the MDBK cells, which made a plateau after 48-60 hours, and decreased thereafter. The uptake amount of 3H-uracil depended not only upon the inoculum size of the sporozoites but also on the degree of time delay (preincubation; sporozoites only) from excystation to inoculation into MDBK cells. The 3H-uracil uptake became lower as the preincubation time was prolonged. In comparison, after preincubation of sporozoites with spleen cells for 4 or 12 hours, the 3H-uracil uptake was significantly increased compared with that of control group. From the results, it was inferred that, although the penetration of E. tenella sporozoites into the lymphoid cells such as IEL is not an essential step, it should be at least a beneficial one for the survival and development of sporozoites in the chicken intestine.     

Eimeria tenella: use of a monoclonal antibody in determining the intracellular fate of the refractile body organelles and the effect on in vitro development

A monoclonal antibody, which recognizes the refractile body of Eimeria sporozoites, was used to study the developmental fate of this organelle during asexual development of E. tenella and to determine the effect of this monoclonal antibody on in vitro development of the parasite. Through use of immunofluorescent antibody and gold-labeling techniques at the light and electron microscopy level, the refractile body at 48 to 96 hr postinoculation was found to separate into 6 to 10 small globules, then diffuse throughout the schizont cytoplasm, and eventually reconcentrate as a small dot of material in each of the mature first-generation merozoites. The schizont did not develop to maturity if diffusion of the refractile body did not occur. The refractile body material was quickly lost as the merozoite left the schizont and invaded new cells and was not detected in any later developmental stages. The in vitro development of first- and second-generation schizonts of E. tenella was greatly inhibited (up to 100%) with exposure to the monoclonal antibody. There was an increase in the number of schizonts with nondispersed refractile body in the monoclonal antibody-treated cells when compared to the untreated controls, and the few mature schizonts seen had up to a 50-fold decrease in the number of merozoites. Immunofluorescent antibody labeling of the refractile body of intracellular sporozoites and schizonts treated in vitro with the monoclonal antibody for 24-96 hr postinoculation indicated that the antibody had crossed the host cell and parasite plasma membrane during incubation.     

Co-expression of reporter genes in the widespread pathogen Eimeria tenella using a double-cassette expression vector strategy

The double-cassette expression vector strategy is valuable for many studies, including comparative analysis of the function of promoters and expression of genes in different compartments. In this study, we report co-expression of enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) and red fluorescent protein (RFP) in Eimeria tenella transfected with two double-cassette expression vectors, pMIC-EYFP/ACT-RFP and pMIC-EYFP/ACTss-RFP. The results showed that under regulation of the mic1 promoter, EYFP was expressed in sporulated oocysts but not in unsporulated ones, while under regulation of the actin promoter RFP was expressed in both forms. We found that the signal peptide of Toxoplasma gondii dense granule protein 8 (GRA8) located the RFP expression to the parasitophorous vacuoles of the parasites, the margins of the unsporulated oocysts and the cavities of the sporocysts. The feasibility of co-expression of exogenous proteins in E. tenella is important for the development of transgenic E. tenella as a novel vaccine vector.     

Penetration of Eimeria tenella sporozoites under different oxygen concentrations in vitro.

Sporozoites of Eimeria tenella (Wisconsin strain) were inoculated onto monolayers of normal chicken kidney fibroblasts and cultured in RPMI-1640 supplemented with 5% fetal bovine serum, sodium bicarbonate, and gentamicin under either aerobic, 5% CO2/95% air, or anaerobic conditions. Penetration of fibroblasts by sporozoites under CO2 or anaerobic conditions at 2 and 24 hr postinoculation was 3-4 times greater than that in the aerobic atmosphere. Effect of reduced oxygen concentrations, i.e., 20.0, 12.5, and 5.0% oxygen, was also investigated in an N2-O2-CO2 incubator. Under 5.0 and 12.5% oxygen at 2 and 24 hr postinoculation, the number of sporozoites that penetrated was about 4 and 2 times greater, respectively, than under 20.0% O2. These results indicate that lower oxygen concentrations provide for greater penetration by E. tenella sporozoites in cultured cells.     

Ultrastructural localization of antigenic sites on sporozoites, sporocysts, and oocysts of Eimeria acervulina and Eimeria tenella by monoclonal IgG and IgM antibodies

Immunoelectron microscopy was used to study the localization of monoclonal IgG (13.9 and 15.84) and IgM (10.84) antibodies generated against Eimeria tenella sporozoites on sporozoites, sporocysts, and oocysts of Eimeria acervulina and E. tenella. A uniform layer of ferritin was present on sporozoites of E. tenella fixed chemically before the addition of 10.84, 13.90, or 15.84 (called prefixed), whereas postfixed (fixed chemically after exposure to monoclonal antibody) sporozoites lacked ferritin, indicating that the latter had capped immune complexes. Patches of ferritin were present on prefixed and postfixed sporozoites of E. acervulina exposed to 15.84, indicating that immune complexes containing 15.84 were not capped. Sporocysts of E. tenella exposed to 10.84 had a uniform layer of ferritin on their outer surface; ferritin was localized in patches on those exposed to 13.90 or 15.84. In E. acervulina sporocysts exposed to 15.84, ferritin was widely scattered on the outer surface but formed a uniform layer on the inner surface of the sporocyst wall. Patches of ferritin occurred on the inner layer of the oocyst walls of E. tenella and E. acervulina exposed to 10.84, 13.90, or 15.84. These findings indicate the shared antigen detected by 15.84 differed in relative amount, spatial distribution, and structural location in sporozoites and sporocysts of E. acervulina and E. tenella.     

Interferon-gamma-mediated inhibition of the development of Eimeria tenella in cultured cells

The effect of treating cultured Madin-Darby bovine kidney cells (MDBK) with recombinant bovine interferon-alpha 1 (IFN-alpha 1) or recombinant bovine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on the intracellular development of Eimeria tenella was studied. Treatment of the MDBK cells with IFN alpha-1 for 24 hr before infection and for 48 hr after infection had no effect on the development of E. tenella. However, following the same treatment regime with serial dilutions of IFN-gamma induced a significant reduction in the number of total intracellular parasites (sporozoites, trophozoites, and meronts) compared to the untreated controls. Of these intracellular parasites, less than 30% had developed beyond the sporozoite stage. These results are suggestive of a role for IFN-gamma in protecting or limiting the development of E. tenella in their host cells. These results could be relevant to the control of these organisms and may be exploited for use with a coccidiosis vaccine.     

柔嫩艾美耳球虫HSP基因的克隆、表达及鉴定

为研究柔嫩艾美耳球虫热激蛋白(Heat shock proteins,HSPs)的生物学特性,应用RACE和RT-PCR技术,从柔嫩艾美耳球虫子孢子中首次克隆获得了EtHSP的全长cDNA(GenBank Accession No.FJ911605)。EtHSP包含一个1455 bp的开放阅读框,编码484个氨基酸,预测表达蛋白的分子量大小为53.5 kD。应用Real-time PCR对柔嫩艾美耳球虫不同发育阶段(未孢子化卵囊、孢子化卵囊、子孢子和裂殖子)表达量进行分析,发现该基因在子孢子阶段的表达明显高于其他阶段。同时,构建了原核表达重组质粒pET28a(+)-EtHSP,转化到大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中,经IPTG诱导表达后,对表达产物进行SDS-PAGE及Western blotting分析。结果显示,重组质粒pET28a(+)-EtHSP在大肠杆菌中以包涵体形式表达,经1 mmol/L IPTG诱导6 h后的表达量最高,该蛋白可被抗柔嫩艾美耳球虫的多克隆抗血清识别,表明该蛋白具有较好的反应原性。本研究结果为进一步研究该基因的生物学功能奠定了基础。     

Flotillin-1 localization on sporozoites oF Eimeria tenella

In an attempt to identify parasite surface components involved in the interaction with the host cell, the present research focuses on the rafts of Eimeria tenella that might be involved in the host cell invasion process. To that end, this study was undertaken to investigate the expression of flotillin-1, which is an important component and marker of lipid rafts at the plasma membrane of sporozoites of E. tenella. The expression of this plasma membrane protein was identified by an antibody that specifically reacts with flotillin- and was studied by electron microscopy. Flotillin-1 was found to occur in patches on the surface of E. tenella sporozoites. Immunoblot analysis of the total proteins of the sporozoites showed only 1 band of approximately 48 kDa. This indicates that the antibody exclusively recognized the molecules of flotillin-1 expressed on the surface of E. tenella sporozoites. The presence of flotillin-1 on the cellular membrane of sporozoites predominantly at the apical tip suggests that flotillin-1 belongs to the invasion machinery of E. tenella.     

Reduced Invasion of Cultured Cells Pretreated With A Monoclonal Antibody Elicited Against Refractile Body Antigens of Avian Coccidial Sporozoites

The effect of a monoclonal antibody (1209-C2) elicited against sporozoite refractile-body antigen on invasion of cultured baby hamster kidney cells by avian Eimeria species was examined in vitro. Pretreatment of sporozoites with 1209-C2 for 45 min before inoculation into cultures or simultaneous introduction of sporozoites and 1209-C2 into cultures had no significant effect on invasion. However, pretreatment of cultures for 45 min with 1209-C2 (also with media from other cloned 1209 cell lines) significantly inhibited invasion by sporozoites of Eimeria tenella and E. adenoeides. Pretreatment of cultures with 2 unrelated monoclonal antibodies with the same isotype as 1209-C2 did not inhibit invasion by E. tenella. There was a significant correlation between time of exposure of the cultures to 1209-C2 and invasion (r = -0.80924; p = 0.0001), with inhibition of invasion occurring after 20 min exposure, but not after 10 min. There was also a significant correlation between the titer of 1209-C2 and invasion (r = 0.62291; p = 0.0305). Monoclonal antibody 1209-C2 cross-reacted with epitopes of baby hamster kidney cells by both immunofluorescence and Western blot. The fluorescent labeling of the cells differed according to the fixative that was used. In formalin-fixed cultures labeled with 1209-C2, fluorescent foci were distributed over the entire cell; after methanol fixation, 1209-C2 reacted with only discrete foci in the nucleus. On Western blots of sporozoites, 1209-C2 reacted with antigens having molecular sizes of approximately 8, 17, 23, 30, and 45-60 kDa, and with several minor bands. On baby hamster kidney cells, the antibody reacted primarily with bands of approximately 30, 45-60, and slightly with other bands. The data suggest that interactions among similar molecules in the sporozoites and host cells may play a role in cellular invasion.     

Ultrastructure of cytoplasmic and nuclear changes in Eimeria tenella during first-generation schizogony in cell culture.

Eimeria tenella sporozoites were inoculated into primary cultures of chick kidney cells. Cells fixed from 1 1/2 to 54 hr later were examined with the electron microscope. At 1 1/2 and 24 hr, most intracellular sporozoites were fusiform and retained organelles typical of extracellular sporozoites. However, at 35 hr, rounded trophozoites were present without these structures; only a refractile body, nucleus, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum remained. Binucleate parasites were also present at that time, but at 48 hr many multinucleate schizonts were present. Nuclei, with adjacent conoids, were at the periphery of these schizonts. Partly developed merozoites, each containing a conoid and a nucleus, protruded into the parasitophorous vacuole. At 54 hr, fully developed merozoites were separated from the residual body. Merozoites resembled sporozoites but lacked the large refractile bodies seen in sporozoites. Linear inclusions were present near the merozoite nucleus and in the residual body. Round vacuoles and ribosomes were also found in the residuum. Nucleoli were first seen in sporozoite nuclei at 1 1/2 hr. They were also present in merozoites but were more prominent in trophozoites and schizonts. Peripheral and scattered nuclear heterochromatins were prominent in intracellular sporozoites and diminished in trophozoites, but increased after several nuclear divisions and were again prominent in the merozoite. Small, distinct interchromatin granules were found in all stages. Intranuclear spindles, centrocones, and centrioles were found in connection with nuclear divisions. Ultrastructure of first-generation schizogony in cell culture was similar to that described for second-generation E. tenella in the chicken and to schizogony of other species of Eimeria.     

Monosaccharide transport by Eimeria tenella sporozoites

Eimeria tenella sporozoites were incubated in the presence of 3 different [14C]-labeled sugars; D-glucose, 2-deoxy-D-glucose and 3-O-methyl-D-glucose. The initial velocity, Vi, of uptake of D-glucose and 2-deoxy-D-glucose was similar, 41 micrograms/10(10) sporozoites/min and 46 micrograms/10(10) sporozoites/min, respectively; whereas that for 3-O-methyl-D-glucose was significantly lower, 17 micrograms/10(10) sporozoites/min. Initial velocity studies also revealed that glucose uptake was a saturable event, with an apparent KT of 20 mM and an apparent Vmax of 312 micrograms/10(10) sporozoites/min. Uptake was unaffected by exogenous sodium levels or the presence of ouabain. However, 0.1 mM phloretin significantly inhibited glucose uptake. Thus, it would appear that E. tenella sporozoites possess a Na-independent, phloretin-sensitive, carrier-mediated monosaccharide-transport system.     

Monoclonal antibody produced against partially purified sporozoite antigen inhibits invasion of cells by sporozoites of avian Eimeria species

Previous studies showed that molecules of in vitro-cultured primary turkey kidney cells bound to 23-, 40-, and 60- to 65-kDa antigens of sodium dodecyl sulfate-solubilized sporozoites of Eimeria adenoeides. Similar binding to antigens of three other species of avian Eimeria, E. tenella, E. acervulina, and E. meleagrimitis, is now reported. Strips containing the most avidly bound sporozoite antigen (approximately 40 kDa) were excised from the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels on which E. adenoeides antigens had been electrophoretically separated. The strips were homogenized and injected into mice to produce hybridoma cell lines. Twelve cell lines secreting monoclonal antibodies (McAb) that reacted with E. adenoeides sporozoites were detected. One of these McAb, H11C3, reacted with structures in the anterior tip of sporozoites of E. adenoeides and five other species of avian Eimeria. When included in the inoculation medium, this McAb significantly inhibited invasion of cultured kidney cells by sporozoites of E. adenoeides and E. tenella. In contrast, when the sporozoites were pretreated with McAb H11C3 and then washed free of the antibody, no inhibition of invasion was observed.     

Eimeria tenella: immunogenicity of arrested sporozoites in chickens

Groups of chickens were medicated with the anticoccidial drug, decoquinate, and starting 1 day after this medication they were given daily inoculations of either 1 X 10(4) (Experiment 1) or 1 X 10(5) (Experiment 2) oocysts of a decoquinate-sensitive strain of Eimeria tenella. This assured the presence of large numbers of drug-inhibited sporozoites in the cecal tissues. The immunity arising from the presence of these inhibited sporozoites was assessed by challenging the medicated chickens with a 2.5 X 10(5) oocysts of a decoquinate-resistant strain of E. tenella. The response to challenge was assessed by weight gain, the severity of cecal lesions, hematocrits, and cecal oocyst numbers. The inhibited sporozoites promoted little (if any) immunity judged by clinical signs of disease. However, judged by body weight changes after challenge, the presence of inhibited sporozoites provided substantial protection against the body-weight-depressing effects of the challenge dose. These findings emphasize the importance of stage-specific antigen expression in Eimeria spp. infections and support the notion that immunogenicity is associated with tropic stages of the parasite.     

Establishment of Eimeria tenella (local isolate) in chicken embryos

Development of an in vitro Eimeria (E.) tenella model could be valuable as a tool for vaccine, coccidiostats or molecular biology research. 1.0 × 10,000 sporozoites per 0.1 mL were inoculated into the allantoic cavity of ten-day-old chicken embryos. The complete life-cycle of E. tenella was accomplished in eight-nine days at 37 °C and 70% humidity. The addition of 100 U insulin to the embryos could remarkably improve the output of oocysts. The development of the parasite within the embryos was systematically observed, allowing guidelines to be set regarding the appropriate times at which different developmental stages of the parasite may be sampled.