Apical membrane antigen 1 is a cross-reactive antigen between Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii, and the anti-NcAMA1 antibody inhibits host cell invasion by both parasites

The cross-reactive antigens of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii are important in the exploration to determine the common mechanisms of parasite-host interaction. In this study, a gene encoding N. caninum apical membrane antigen 1 (NcAMA1) was identified by immunoscreening of a N. caninum tachyzoite cDNA expression library with antisera from mice immunized with recombinant T. gondii apical membrane antigen 1 (TgAMA1). NcAMA1 was encoded by an open reading frame of 1695 bp, which encoded a protein of 564 amino acids. The single-copy NcAMA1 gene was interrupted by seven introns. NcAMA1 showed 73.6% amino acid identity to TgAMA1. Mouse polyclonal antibodies raised against the recombinant NcAMA1 (rNcAMA1) recognized a 69-kDa native parasite protein by Western blotting. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that NcAMA1 was localized to the apical end of tachyzoites. Two-dimensional electrophoresis and Western blotting indicated that an approximately 57-kDa cleavage product was released into the excretory/secretory products of N. caninum. Preincubation of free tachyzoites with anti-rNcAMA1 IgG antibodies inhibited the invasion into host cells by N. caninum and T. gondii. These results indicated that AMA1 is a cross-reactive antigen between N. caninum and T. gondii and a potential common vaccine candidate to control two parasites.     

Identification of the cross-reactive and species-specific antigens between Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites by a proteomics approach

The characterization of the cross-reactive and species-specific antigens of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii is important in the exploration to determine the common mechanisms of parasite-host interaction and to improve the serological diagnosis; it is also useful for the selection of the cross-reactive antigens that could be used in the development of vaccines or drugs for controlling the diseases caused by these two parasites. In this study, cross-reactive and species-specific antigens between N. caninum and T. gondii tachyzoites were comprehensively investigated using a proteomics approach with the application of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, immunoblot analysis, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), and MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS analysis. Immunoblotting and mass spectrometry analysis revealed that at least 42 individual protein spots of N. caninum were reacted with the anti-N. caninum serum, among which at least 18 protein spots were cross-reacted with the anti-T. gondii serum. Moreover, at least 31 protein spots of T. gondii were reacted with the anti-T. gondii serum, among which at least 19 protein spots were cross-reacted with the anti-N. caninum serum. Furthermore, some new specific proteins were also identified in the N. caninum protein profile by searching Toxoplasma sequences or sequences from other organisms. This study substantiates the usefulness of proteomics in the immunoscreening of the cross-reactive or species-specific antigens of both parasites. In addition, the present study showed that there was significant homology in the antigenic proteome profiles between the two parasites. These observations have implications for the design of multicomponent common vaccines against both parasite infections.     

Identification and characterization of Neospora caninum tachyzoite antigens useful for diagnosis of neosporosis.

The purpose of the present study was to identify antigens of the protozoan Neospora caninum that could be useful for the diagnosis of neosporosis in domestic animals. As revealed by immunoblotting, immune sera from a wide range of animal species exhibited a similar recognition pattern of four major and several minor N. caninum antigens. In contrast to preinoculation sera, all tested immune sera recognized nonreduced immunodominant 17-, 29-, 30-, and 27-kDa antigens. A 46-kDa protein which showed faint recognition by preimmune sera also exhibited a strong response by immune sera. Immunolocalization of the four immunodominant N. caninum antigens was investigated by immunogold electron microscopy using monospecific polyclonal antisera. The 17-kDa antigen appears to be associated with the body part of the rhoptries, while the 29- and 30-kDa antigens were associated with the dense granules, network, and limiting membrane of the parasitophorous vacuole. Studies were also conducted to compare antibody responses to N. caninum and the related protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. Although N. caninum and T. gondii (RH strain) tachyzoites shared a few cross-reacting antigens, the immunodominant antigens of both parasites were not recognized by heterologous sera. Also, immunogold staining with rabbit anti-Neospora hyperimmune serum exhibited almost no labeling of external membranes of Neospora tachyzoites compared with the very marked labeling seen when Toxoplasma tachyzoites (RH strain) were incubated with rabbit anti-Toxoplasma hyperimmune serum. These unique antigenic differences should be useful in developing a diagnostic assay for N. caninum.     

Sensitive and specific identification of Neospora caninum infection of cattle based on detection of serum antibodies to recombinant Ncp29

Neosporosis is an economically important disease of dairy cattle caused by the protozoan Neospora caninum. Diagnostic tests for neosporosis are complicated by the potential for cross-reaction of antibodies to antigens that are similar between N. caninum and closely related parasites Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis cruzi. To provide a sensitive and specific assay for detecting antibodies to N. caninum in the serum of infected animals, we have investigated a recombinant form of the antigen known as Ncp29 (rNcp29), which is a major surface protein of the parasite. Ncp29 is encoded by a gene that is homologous to the SAG1 gene previously characterized from T. gondii. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to screen animals for the presence of serum antibodies specific to rNcp29. The rNcp29 ELISA readily distinguished between cattle known to be infected with N. caninum (optical density [OD] > 1.2 at 1:500 or greater dilution) and negative controls (OD < 0.5 at 1:500). Additionally, sera from animals that were infected with T. gondii or S. cruzi were negative. The rNcp29 ELISA developed here provides a specific and sensitive assay for detecting neosporosis in cattle.     

Serological diagnosis of bovine neosporosis by Neospora caninum monoclonal antibody-based competitive inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Neospora caninum, a protozoan parasite closely related to Toxoplasma gondii, causes abortion and congenital infection in cattle. To investigate specific methods of antemortem diagnosis, the antibody responses of infected cows were evaluated by immunoblot assay and competitive inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (CI-ELISA) by using a monoclonal antibody (MAb), MAb 4A4-2, against N. caninum tachyzoites. MAb 4A4-2 bound diffusely to the exterior surface of N. caninum tachyzoites and recognized a single 65-kDa band in immunoblots. MAb 4A4-2 was unreactive to antigens of two closely related apicomplexan protozoa, Toxoplasma gondii and Sarcocystis cruzi. Binding of MAb 4A4-2 was inhibited by mild periodate treatment of N. caninum antigen, demonstrating the carbohydrate nature of the epitope. Immunoblot analysis of N. caninum tachyzoite antigens with sera from cows with confirmed Neospora-induced abortion revealed at minimum 14 major antigens ranging from 11 to 175 kDa. Although the recognized antigens varied from cow to cow, antigens of 116, 65, and 25 kDa were detected in all cows with abortion confirmed to be caused by N. caninum. The binding of MAb 4A4-2 to N. caninum tachyzoite antigen was consistently inhibited by sera from Neospora-infected cows in a CI-ELISA format and was not inhibited by sera from Neospora antibody-negative cows. Furthermore, sera from cattle experimentally infected with T. gondii, S. cruzi, Sarcocystis hominis, or Sarcocystis hirsuta, which had cross-reactive antibodies recognizing multiple N. caninum antigens by immunoblot assay, did not inhibit binding of MAb 4A4-2 in the CI-ELISA. Thus, MAb 4A4-2 binds a carbohydrate epitope on a single N. caninum tachyzoite surface antigen that is recognized consistently and specifically by Neospora-infected cattle.     

Identification of a major surface protein on Neospora caninum tachyzoites

Neospora caninum is a recently identified coccidian parasite that is closely related to Toxoplasma gondii. Molecules associated with the surface of N. caninum tachyzoites are likely to be involved in the process of adhesion and invasion of host cells. They probably also participate in the interaction of the parasite with the immune system, and they could play an important role in the pathogenesis of the parasite. To identify such surface molecules, we performed subcellular fractionation studies of isolated N. caninum tachyzoites. Employing the nonionic detergent Triton-X-114, we prepared a membrane fraction. Immunoblot analysis of this fraction using polyclonal antisera directed against tachyzoites of N. caninum and T. gondii resulted in the identification of a protein of approximately 43 kDa (Nc-p43). This molecule was present in two isolates of Neospora (Nc-1 and Liverpool) but was absent in Toxoplasma (RH-strain) tachyzoites. Further immunofluorescence and immunogold transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies using affinity-purified anti-Nc-p43 antibodies demonstrated the presence of this molecule on the surface of N. caninum tachyzoites.     

Subcellular localization and functional characterization of Nc-p43, a major Neospora caninum tachyzoite surface protein.

Neospora caninum is a recently identified coccidian parasite which shares many features with, but is clearly distinct from, Toxoplasma gondii. N. caninum tachyzoites infect a wide range of mammalian cells both in vivo and in vitro. The mechanisms by which infection is achieved are largely unknown. Recent evidence has suggested that a receptor-ligand system in which one or several host cell receptors bind to one or several parasite ligands is involved. Parasite cell surface-associated molecules such as the recently identified Nc-p43 antigen are prime suspects for being implicated in this physical interaction. In this study it is shown that invasion of Vero cell monolayers by N. caninum tachyzoites in vitro is impaired on incubation of parasites with subagglutinating amounts of affinity-purified antibodies directed against Nc-p43. Postembedding immunogold labeling with anti-Nc-p43 antibodies demonstrated that Nc-p43 is localized not only on the parasite cell surface but also within dense granules and rhoptries. The fate of Nc-p43 during intracellular proliferation of N. caninum tachyzoites and subsequent maturation of the parasitophorous vacuole was also studied.     

Infection of mice with Neospora caninum (Protozoa: Apicomplexa) does not protect against challenge with Toxoplasma gondii.

Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii are structurally related protozoal parasites of mammals that may cause abortion and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Groups of mice were subcutaneously inoculated with 10(5) live zoites of the NC-1 or NC-3 isolates of N. caninum and reinoculated with an identical number of live zoites 2 weeks later. Groups of mice which were injected subcutaneously with Hanks balanced salt solution served as controls. Three weeks after the final N. caninum inoculation, one-half of the mice were inoculated subcutaneously with 2.5 x 10(4) zoites of the RH isolate of T. gondii and the other half were inoculated subcutaneously with 2.5 x 10(4) zoites of the GT-1 isolate of T. gondii. Serum samples taken from mice on the day of T. gondii inoculation were negative for specific antibodies to T. gondii, but mice inoculated with N. caninum had reciprocal titers of greater than or equal to 800 to this protozoan. All of the mice died after challenge with T. gondii, and no significant differences (P greater than 0.05) between the survival times of mice inoculated with either isolate of N. caninum and those of control mice were seen. This study indicates that N. caninum and T. gondii are distinct biologic entities and not closely related isolates.     

弓形虫依钙蛋白激酶Calpain—like基因的克隆及表达

目的克隆弓形虫RH株Calpain—like基因片段，构建原核表达载体，诱导表达Calpain-like基因重组蛋白。方法收集、纯化弓形虫RH株速殖子，提取总RNA，在设计合成的引物中引入SalI和EcoRI酶切位点。应用FIT—PCR扩增弓形虫RH株Calpain—like基因片段，插入pGEM—T载体，提取重组质粒，双酶切获得目的基因，亚克隆到原核表达质粒pET32a，重组子经双酶切、PCR和DNA序列分析鉴定，转化大肠杆菌BL21并以IPTG诱导表达。结果从弓形虫RH株速殖子eDNA中扩增出316bp的Calpain-like基因片段；含pET32a／Calpain—like的重组质粒在宿主菌经诱导后，获得与预期分子量相符的表达产物。结论成功地克隆和表达弓形虫RH株Calpain—like基因，弓形虫Calpain—like基因的克隆表达为进一步筛选弓形虫疫苗候选分子和治疗药物的靶位提供了研究基础。     

Identification and characterization of Neospora caninum cyclophilin that elicits gamma interferon production

Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) response is essential to the development of a host protective immunity in response to infections by intracellular parasites. Neosporosis, an infection caused by the intracellular protozoan parasite Neospora caninum, is fatal when there is a complete lack of IFN-gamma in the infected host. However, the mechanism by which IFN-gamma is elicited by the invading parasite is unclear. This study has identified a microbial protein in the N. caninum tachyzoite N. caninum cyclophilin (NcCyP) as a major component of the parasite responsible for the induction of IFN-gamma production by bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and antigen-specific CD4(+) T cells. NcCyP has high sequence homology (86%) with Toxoplasma gondii 18-kDa CyP with a calculated molecular mass of 19.4 kDa. NcCyP is a secretory protein with a predicted signal peptide of 17 amino acids. Abundant NcCyP was detected in whole-cell N. caninum tachyzoite lysate antigen (NcAg) and N. caninum tachyzoite culture supernatant. In N. caninum tachyzoite culture supernatant, three NcCyP bands of 19, 22, and 24 kDa were identified. NcAg stimulated high levels of IFN-gamma production by PBMC and CD4(+) T cells. The IFN-gamma-inducing effect of NcAg was blocked by cyclosporine, a specific ligand for CyP, in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, cyclosporine abolished IFN-gamma production by PBMC from na?ve cows as well as PBMC and CD4(+) T cells from infected/immunized cows. These results indicate that the N. caninum tachyzoite naturally produces a potent IFN-gamma-inducing protein, NcCyP, which may be important for parasite survival as well as host protection.     

In vitro effects of aqueous extracts of Astragalus membranaceus and Scutellaria baicalensis GEORGI on Toxoplasma gondii

Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that infects animals and humans worldwide. The standard treatment for toxoplasmosis is limiting due to toxic adverse effects, thus there is a need to identify new drugs that are less toxic. Both Astragalus membranaceus and Scutellaria baicalensis GEORGI are popular traditional Chinese herbs widely used for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases in Asia, and we have previously demonstrated that water extracts of A. membranaceus (AmE) and S. baicalensis GEORGI (SbE) have good efficacy in controlling T. gondii replication in mouse models. This study was designed to further evaluate their effects against developing tachyzoites of the RH strain of T. gondii in HeLa cell cultures. AmE, SbE, and TMP-SMX (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) were added into the wells containing both HeLa cells and replicating T. gondii of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing RH tachyzoites. The proliferation and morphous of the tachyzoites were observed, the fluorescence intensity expressed as the fluorescence gray scale value was measured, and the living tachyzoites were counted at different culture times after treatment. The results showed that, compared to untreated controls, parasites treated with either AmE or SbE had significantly decreased intracellular replication at 72, 96, and 120 h after treatment (P?相似文献   

Transformed Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites expressing the circumsporozoite protein of Plasmodium knowlesi elicit a specific immune response in rhesus monkeys

Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites were transformed with the coding sequence of the circumsporozoite (CS) protein of the primate malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi. A single inoculation of live transformed tachyzoites elicited an antibody response directed against the immunodominant repeat epitope (EQPAAGAGG)2 of the P. knowlesi CS protein in rhesus monkeys. Notably, these animals failed to show a positive serum conversion against T. gondii. Antibodies against Toxoplasma antigens were detected only after a second inoculation with a higher number of transformed tachyzoites. This boost induced an increased antibody response against the P. knowlesi CS protein associated with immunoglobulin class switching, thus demonstrating the establishment of immunological memory. These results indicate that the Toxoplasma-derived CS protein is efficiently recognized by the monkey immune system and represents an immunodominant antigen in transformed parasites.     

Protein phosphorylation during the process of interaction of Toxoplasma gondii with host cells

Previous studies have shown that tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii were able to penetrate into macrophages using two mechanisms: phagocytosis and active penetration. We show here that previous incubation of the macrophages or the parasites with staurosporine, a wide range inhibitor of protein kinases, tyrfostin and genistein, specific inhibitors of tyrosine kinases, significantly interfered with the process of parasite-macrophage interaction. Staurosporine treatment induced the formation of many filopodium-like surface projections of the macrophages and markedly increased the attachment of the tachyzoites to the cell surface. Genistein inhibited about 50% penetration of T. gondii into macrophages. Previous incubation of tachyzoites with genistein also significantly inhibited their attachment to and penetration into the macrophages. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to locate phosphoproteins in macrophages interacting with tachyzoites. Antiphosphotyrosine antibodies labeled the surface of macrophages, but not L929 cells, incubated in presence of T. gondii, even those cells did not show associated parasites. Anti phosphotyrosine, phosphothreonine and phosphoserine antibodies labeled the region surrounding the parasitophorous vacuoles. These observations suggest that protein phosphorylation is a key event in the process of T. gondii-host cell interaction.     

刚地弓形虫SAG3基因体外扩增及生物信息学分析

目的获取刚地弓形虫（Toxoplasma gondii）RH株表面抗原SAG3目的基因片段,对其结构和功能进行生物信息学分析,预测其编码蛋白作为候选抗原基因的可行性。方法提取弓形虫的基因组DNA,自行设计一对寡核苷酸引物,PCR体外扩增SAG3基因,用生物信息学方法对SAG3蛋白的理化性质、结构和功能进行预测。结果扩增出的基因片段约1174bp,测序后鉴定其为弓形虫RH株SAG3基因片段。预测SAG3蛋白相对分子质量约为41785．2。能形成两个功能结构域,氨基酸序列的前38（或39）位为信号肽序列。通过多种预测方法分析SAG3氨基酸序列抗原表位可能位于第10、50、80、95、160、180、220、250、300、330和360位点内或附近。结论成功获得SAG3基因,为深入研究该基因结构奠定了基础。     

Double-stranded RNA specific to adenosine kinase and hypoxanthine–xanthine–guanine-phosphoribosyltransferase retards growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Toxoplasma gondii</Emphasis>

Adenosine kinase (AK) and hypoxanthine-xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HXGPRT) are the two key enzymes involved in the purine salvage pathway in Toxoplasma gondii. In this study, we targeted the genes encoding AK and HXGPRT in T. gondii for inhibition by exposing the parasites to the corresponding double stranded RNAs (dsRNAs). We report here that dsRNAs targeting both AK and HXGPRT were effective at eliciting suppression of the corresponding gene in cultured tachyzoites. When both of these genes were targeted by dsRNA simultaneously, the average doubling for the dsRNA-treated parasites at 24 h, 30 h, and 42 h was 1.85, 2.62, and 4.27, respectively, significantly lower than that of mock-treated parasites. The data show that transfection of dsRNAs into cells can efficiently regulate gene expression in T. gondii. Application of dsRNA to disrupt gene expression in T. gondii would be useful for elucidating gene function as a step towards the development of therapeutic reagents.     

Identification and characterization of serine proteinase inhibitors from Neospora caninum

Two cDNA clones obtained from the Neospora caninum Expressed Sequence Tag project were selected by their homology with the Toxoplasma gondii serine proteinase inhibitor (serpin) gene, TgPI-1 and TgPI-2. One of them, named NcPI-H, showed several premature stop codons. The other cDNA, named NcPI-S, encoded a 79 amino acid protein containing a putative signal peptide and only one non-classical Kazal domain. Two other N. caninum EST sequences (NcEST1 and NcEST2) and one from Eimeria tenella (EtPI-S) were retrieved from the database. Amino acid sequence analysis suggested that NcEST1 and NcEST2 might be the N. caninum counterparts of TgPI-1 and TgPI-2, respectively. EtEST-S, as NcPI-S, is a single domain serpin. The open reading frame encoding the mature version of NcPI-S was expressed as recombinant protein, fused to a 6 histidine tag in Escherichia coli. Specific rabbit antiserum generated against the recombinant NcPI-S was used in immunoblot assays. Bands of 20, 30, 40, and 66-kDa were detected by SDS-PAGE of whole parasite homogenate. In addition, when an anti-TgPI-1 serum was used, bands of 25 and 35-kDa were detected indicating that there is no cross-reactivity between both serpins, and showing as well, the presence of another putative serpin in N. caninum. The recombinant protein NcPI-S, inhibited bacterial subtilisin completely, and showed lower inhibitory capacity on human neutrophil elastase, animal trypsin, and chymotrypsin, suggesting differences in effectiveness.