Protective efficacy of multiepitope vaccines constructed from common antigens of Eimeria species in chickens
Abstract Clinical avian coccidiosis is typically caused by coinfection with several Eimeria species. Recombinant protein and DNA vaccines have shown promise in controlling coccidiosis. On this basis, DNA vaccines that encode multiple epitopes from different Eimeria species may provide broad protecti...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Veterinary Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-023-01253-y |
| _version_ | 1797388166294929408 |
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| author | Chen Chen Junzhi Su Mingmin Lu Lixin Xu Ruofeng Yan Xiangrui Li Xiaokai Song |
| author_facet | Chen Chen Junzhi Su Mingmin Lu Lixin Xu Ruofeng Yan Xiangrui Li Xiaokai Song |
| author_sort | Chen Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Clinical avian coccidiosis is typically caused by coinfection with several Eimeria species. Recombinant protein and DNA vaccines have shown promise in controlling coccidiosis. On this basis, DNA vaccines that encode multiple epitopes from different Eimeria species may provide broad protection against coinfections. In this study, we designed a fusion gene fragment, 14EGT, that contained concentrated T-cell epitopes from four common antigens of Eimeria species (14-3-3, elongation factor 2, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and transhydrogenase). The multiepitope DNA vaccine pVAX1-14EGT and recombinant protein vaccine pET-32a-14EGT (r14EGT) were then created based on the 14EGT fragment. Subsequently, cellular and humoral immune responses were measured in vaccinated chickens. Vaccination-challenge trials were also conducted, where the birds were vaccinated with the 14EGT preparations and later exposed to single or multiple Eimeria species to evaluate the protective efficacy of the vaccines. According to the results, vaccination with 14EGT preparations effectively increased the proportions of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and the levels of Th1 and Th2 hallmark cytokines. The levels of serum IgG antibodies were also significantly increased. Animal vaccination trials revealed alleviated enteric lesions, weight loss, and oocyst output compared to those of the control groups. The preparations were found to be moderately effective against single Eimeria species, with the anticoccidial index (ACI) ranging from 160 to 180. However, after challenge with multiple Eimeria species, the protection provided by the 14EGT preparations was not satisfactory, with ACI values of 142.18 and 146.41. Collectively, the results suggest that a multiepitope vaccine that encodes the T-cell epitopes of common antigens derived from Eimeria parasites could be a potential and effective strategy to control avian coccidiosis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T22:36:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ef243a86065349c1bd1281abf2d023b9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1297-9716 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T22:36:54Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Veterinary Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-ef243a86065349c1bd1281abf2d023b92023-12-17T12:26:56ZengBMCVeterinary Research1297-97162023-12-0154112110.1186/s13567-023-01253-yProtective efficacy of multiepitope vaccines constructed from common antigens of Eimeria species in chickensChen Chen0Junzhi Su1Mingmin Lu2Lixin Xu3Ruofeng Yan4Xiangrui Li5Xiaokai Song6MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityMOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityMOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityMOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityMOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityMOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityMOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural UniversityAbstract Clinical avian coccidiosis is typically caused by coinfection with several Eimeria species. Recombinant protein and DNA vaccines have shown promise in controlling coccidiosis. On this basis, DNA vaccines that encode multiple epitopes from different Eimeria species may provide broad protection against coinfections. In this study, we designed a fusion gene fragment, 14EGT, that contained concentrated T-cell epitopes from four common antigens of Eimeria species (14-3-3, elongation factor 2, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and transhydrogenase). The multiepitope DNA vaccine pVAX1-14EGT and recombinant protein vaccine pET-32a-14EGT (r14EGT) were then created based on the 14EGT fragment. Subsequently, cellular and humoral immune responses were measured in vaccinated chickens. Vaccination-challenge trials were also conducted, where the birds were vaccinated with the 14EGT preparations and later exposed to single or multiple Eimeria species to evaluate the protective efficacy of the vaccines. According to the results, vaccination with 14EGT preparations effectively increased the proportions of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and the levels of Th1 and Th2 hallmark cytokines. The levels of serum IgG antibodies were also significantly increased. Animal vaccination trials revealed alleviated enteric lesions, weight loss, and oocyst output compared to those of the control groups. The preparations were found to be moderately effective against single Eimeria species, with the anticoccidial index (ACI) ranging from 160 to 180. However, after challenge with multiple Eimeria species, the protection provided by the 14EGT preparations was not satisfactory, with ACI values of 142.18 and 146.41. Collectively, the results suggest that a multiepitope vaccine that encodes the T-cell epitopes of common antigens derived from Eimeria parasites could be a potential and effective strategy to control avian coccidiosis.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-023-01253-yEpitope vaccinebioinformatics analysiscommon antigencross-protectioncoccidiosis |
| spellingShingle | Chen Chen Junzhi Su Mingmin Lu Lixin Xu Ruofeng Yan Xiangrui Li Xiaokai Song Protective efficacy of multiepitope vaccines constructed from common antigens of Eimeria species in chickens Veterinary Research Epitope vaccine bioinformatics analysis common antigen cross-protection coccidiosis |
| title | Protective efficacy of multiepitope vaccines constructed from common antigens of Eimeria species in chickens |
| title_full | Protective efficacy of multiepitope vaccines constructed from common antigens of Eimeria species in chickens |
| title_fullStr | Protective efficacy of multiepitope vaccines constructed from common antigens of Eimeria species in chickens |
| title_full_unstemmed | Protective efficacy of multiepitope vaccines constructed from common antigens of Eimeria species in chickens |
| title_short | Protective efficacy of multiepitope vaccines constructed from common antigens of Eimeria species in chickens |
| title_sort | protective efficacy of multiepitope vaccines constructed from common antigens of eimeria species in chickens |
| topic | Epitope vaccine bioinformatics analysis common antigen cross-protection coccidiosis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13567-023-01253-y |
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