Role of the Polymorphic Immunodominant Molecule in Entry of Theileria parva Sporozoites into Bovine Lymphocytes

Theileria parva is a tick-transmitted apicomplexan parasite that infects cattle and African buffalo. In cattle, it causes a fatal lymphoproliferative disease called East Coast fever. The polymorphic immunodominant molecule (PIM) is expressed by two stages of the parasite: the sporozoite, which is inoculated by the tick to infect mammalian lymphocytes, and the schizont, the established intralymphocytic stage. Here, we demonstrate that monoclonal antibodies (MAb) to PIM can reduce the ability of sporozoites to infect bovine lymphocytes in vitro. This reduction appears to be due to blocking of sporozoite attachment by binding of the MAb to several regions of PIM. Interestingly, one MAb, which recognizes an epitope in the central variable region of PIM, did not inhibit sporozoite infectivity. We also demonstrate that PIM antigen, as a recombinant molecule, can also reduce sporozoite infectivity in vitro by blocking both attachment and internalization of sporozoites. Electron microscopic studies showed that PIM is present in microspheres below the sporozoite surface and is transported to the parasite surface soon after contact with bovine lymphocytes. The results suggest that at least two sporozoite molecules, PIM and the previously described p67, are involved in the entry of T. parva into mammalian lymphocytes.     

Conservation of the sporozoite p67 vaccine antigen in cattle-derived Theileria parva stocks with different cross-immunity profiles.

Immunity to Theileria parva infection in cattle is often parasite stock specific. The antigenic diversity which is expressed at the schizont stage of the parasite together with a wild reservoir of the organism in buffalo has complicated the development of effective disease control by immunization. We have previously shown that about 70% of cattle inoculated with recombinant forms of p67, a sporozoite stage-specific surface antigen from the cattle-derived Muguga stock of the parasite, are immune to a homologous challenge. Thus, immune responses to p67 can play a role in immunity. The genes encoding this protein in five other parasite stocks have been sequenced. Here, we report that the p67 molecule encoded by four cattle-derived parasite stocks (Boleni, Uganda, Mariakani, and Marikebuni) that fall into different cross-immunity groups is identical in sequence to Muguga p67. The protein encoded by a buffalo-derived parasite exhibits 95% sequence identity with Muguga p67, the major difference being the presence of a 43-residue peptide insert. As predicted by these data, cattle inoculated with recombinant p67 can resist a heterologous cattle-derived parasite challenge. Seven of 12 cattle receiving a homologous Muguga challenge and 6 of 11 cattle receiving a heterologous Marikebuni challenge were immune to East Coast fever. These results extend earlier data suggesting that p67 is a conserved molecule and confirm its potential as a broad-spectrum vaccine antigen for the control of T. parva infection.     

Identification of lambda gt11 clones encoding the major antigenic determinants expressed by Theileria parva sporozoites.

An antiserum, C16, was raised in cattle against freeze-thawed extracts of sporozoites of Theileria parva (Muguga). This antiserum, which neutralizes sporozoite infectivity in vitro, identified theileria-specific antigens having approximate molecular masses of 105, 90, 85, 69, 67, 52, 47, and 43 kilodaltons (kDa) on Western blots (immunoblots) of infected tick salivary gland extracts. The antiserum was used to screen an expression library of T. parva (Muguga) genomic DNA fragments. Three recombinant bacteriophage clones carrying different theileria DNA inserts were studied. The expressed gene product from each clone was used to affinity purify antibodies from C16 antiserum for use in probing Western blots of uninfected and infected tick salivary gland extracts. The population of antibodies selected by each clone specifically recognized a subset of the antigens identified by C16 antiserum. The antigens fell into three distinct groups as defined by their reactivity with each set of selected antibodies. One group included antigens of 105, 90, 85, and 35 kDa, a second group included antigens of 69, 67, 52, 47, and 43 kDa, and the third group included an apparently distinct pair of antigens of 47 and 43 kDa. Thus, antibodies that reacted with determinants encoded by the three recombinant phage clones recognized all of the major antigens seen on Western blots probed with whole C16 antiserum. These results suggest that there may be only three immunodominant antigens expressed in T. parva (Muguga) sporozoites. Additionally, monoclonal antibodies have been raised which neutralize sporozoite infectivity in vitro. These antibodies react with epitopes of the antigens with Mrs of 69,000, 67,000, 52,000, 47,000, and 43,000 which are encoded in clone pgT-42 and have been used to localize these epitopes on the sporozoite surface.     

Bovine cytotoxic T cell clones which recognize lymphoblasts infected with two antigenically different stocks of the protozoan parasite Theileria parva

The Muguga and Marikebuni stocks of Theileria parva differ on the basis of cross-protection and in their schizont antigen profile determined with a panel of parasite-specific monoclonal antibodies. The phenotype and specificity of six cytotoxic T cell clones generated from an animal immunized against T. parva (Marikebuni) were investigated. All six clones had the BoT2+ BoT4- BoT8+ phenotype, were dependent on both specific antigen and T cell growth factor for proliferation and were restricted by determinants on class I major histocompatibility complex molecules. The clones killed target cells infected with either the Muguga or Marikebuni stocks of the parasite; the target cell lines tested included T cell clones which were infected in vitro with the two parasite stocks and subsequently recloned. The specificity of these cytotoxic T cell clones contrasts with that of T cell clones generated previously from animals immunized against T. parva (Muguga), in that the latter were specific for target cells infected with the Muguga stock of the parasite. Moreover, one of the clones generated against T. parva (Marikebuni) was restricted by the same major histocompatibility complex molecule as the Muguga-specific T cell clones. The difference in parasite strain-specificity between the two sets of clones appears to reflect the capacities of the two parasite stocks to cross-protect, since animals immunized against T. parva (Marikebuni) are protected against challenge with T. parva (Muguga) whereas a proportion of animals immunized with T. parva (Muguga) are susceptible to challenge with T. parva (Marikebuni). Another difference between the two sets of T cell clones was that those generated against T. parva (Marikebuni) only killed a proportion of cells of a given cell line in a 4-h cytotoxicity assay, whereas Muguga-specific T cells invariably kill the majority of cells. However, despite this partial killing, the clones markedly inhibited growth of parasitized cell lines when cultured with them for a period of 5 days.     

Humoral immune responses toTheileria parva in cattle as measured by two-dimensional Western blotting

Humoral immune responses to schizont antigens from six stocks ofTheileria parva were compared by two-dimensional Western blotting using sera from cattle that had been infected with aT. parva stock or a clone. Isoelectric points of a polymorphic immunodominant molecule (PIM) of schizonts that induces strong antibody responses in cattle ranged from acidic to basic. Molecular masses (Mr) of the PIM of the respectiveT. parva stocks were as follows:T. parva Muguga, 86 kDa; Mariakani, 83 kDa; Marikebuni, 83 kDa; Uganda, 83 kDa;T. parva Boleni, 83 kDa; andT. parva 7014, 100 kDa. Among nine cattle infected withT. parva Muguga, four produced antibodies to a basic antigen having an Mr of 32 kDa. The PIM ofT. parva Muguga,T. parva Boleni, andT. parva 7014 reacted strongly with serum obtained from an animal that had been infected withT. parva Muguga. Two-dimensional Western blotting using antischizont monoclonal antibodies enabled us to differentiate between stocks ofT. parva.     

Improved characterization of Theileria parva isolates using the polymerase chain reaction and oligonucleotide probes

Theileria parva DNA was purified from piroplasms isolated from cattle infected with 5 different East African isolates of the parasite, including the East Coast fever reference stock T. p. parva Muguga. Total cellular DNA was prepared from T. parva schizont-infected bovine lymphoblastoid cell cultures (11 isolates). Two probes, previously isolated from T. p. parva Muguga repetitive genomic DNA, were hybridized to restriction digests; closely similar restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns were produced, and no two isolates had the same RFLP pattern. The DNA sequences of probe PMB3, two further copies of the repeated sequence from T. p. parva Muguga, and homologous regions from T. p. parva Kiambu 4 and T. p. lawrencei 3081, were determined. Oligonucleotides were synthesized corresponding to two conserved sections flanking a region which varied between isolates. These oligonucleotides were used as primers in the polymerase chain reaction to amplify the variable region. Further oligonucleotides corresponding to sequences in this variable region were able to distinguish between isolates and no sample hybridized to both oligonucleotides. This is the first unequivocal plus/minus discrimination between groups of isolates to be achieved for T. parva.     

Characterisation of the gene encoding a candidate vaccine antigen of Theileria parva sporozoites.

We have cloned and characterised the gene encoding the 67-kilodalton stage-specific surface antigen, p67, of Theileria parva (Muguga) sporozoites. The gene which is present in a single copy, is divided into 2 exons by an intron 29 bp long and is transcribed into mRNA of about 2500 nucleotides. The gene is present in all stocks of T. parva and there is a related gene in Theileria annulata. The deduced amino acid sequence of 709 residues predicts that p67 is a membrane protein and that it lacks tandemly repeated sequences. Recombinant p67 has been expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein with Sj-26, a glutathione-S-transferase of Schistosoma japonicum. Antibodies to purified recombinant proteins containing residues 9-316 or 397-709 of p67 bind to p67 in immunoblots and neutralise sporozoite infectivity in vitro. Recombinant p67 is, therefore, a candidate antigen for development of an anti-sporozoite vaccine for East Coast fever in cattle.     

Strain specificity of bovine Theileria parva-specific cytotoxic T cells is determined by the phenotype of the restricting class I MHC

To determine whether the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) phenotype of cattle could affect the parasite strain specificity of immunity to Theileria parva by influencing the antigenic specificity of Theileria-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), we investigated the parasite strain specificity of Theileria-specific CTL clones derived from cattle of different class I MHC phenotypes. Thirty-one class I-restricted CTL clones were generated from four cattle immunized with the Muguga stock of T. parva. The MHC restriction and parasite strain specificities were determined for each clone utilizing as targets, parasitized cell lines of different MHC phenotypes and cloned cell lines containing different parasite strains. CTL clones restricted by the same MHC determinant had similar parasite strain specificities. On the other hand, clones restricted by different MHC determinants exhibited different parasite strain specificities. This was true whether the clones were generated from the same animal or from different cattle and tested on a target cell line expressing both MHC determinants. These results provide strong evidence that differences in the strain specificities of CTL derived from animals immunized with the same parasite stock, are determined by the class I MHC phenotype of the immunized animal.     

Characterization of a polymorphic Theileria annulata surface protein (TaSP) closely related to PIM of Theileria parva: implications for use in diagnostic tests and subunit vaccines

Theileria annulata is a tick-transmitted protozoan that causes tropical theileriosis, an often fatal leukoproliferative disorder of cattle. To characterize and identify parasite proteins suitable as diagnostic antigens and/or vaccine candidates, a cDNA clone encoding a macroschizont stage protein was isolated and characterized (here designated TaSP). The gene, present as a single copy within the parasite genome, is transcribed in the sporozoite and schizont stage and codes for a protein of about 315 amino acids, having a predicted molecular weight of 36 kDa. Allelic variants were found within single parasite isolates and between isolates originating from different geographical regions. The N-terminal part contains a predicted signal peptide and the C-terminal section encodes membrane-spanning regions. Comparison of a number of cDNA clones showed that both these sequence regions are conserved while the central region shows both size and amino acid sequence polymorphism. High identity of the N- and C-terminal regions with the polymorphic immunodominant molecule (PIM) of Theileria parva (identity of 93%), the existence of a central polymorphic region and two short introns within genomic clones suggest that the presented gene/protein may be the T. annulata homologue of PIM. However, the central region of TaSP has no significant identity with PIM, contains no repetitive peptide motifs and is shorter, resulting in a lower molecular weight. The existence of the predicted secretion signal peptide and membrane spanning regions suggest that TaSP is located at the parasite membrane.     

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of Theileria parva antibodies in cattle using a recombinant polymorphic immunodominant molecule

Field and experimental bovine infection sera were used in immunoblots of sporozoite and schizont lysates of Theileria parva to identify candidate diagnostic antigens. Four parasite antigens of Mr 67,000 (p67), 85,000 (the polymorphic immunodominant molecule, PIM), 104,000 (p104), and 150,000 (p150) were selected for a more detailed analysis. The p67 and p104 antigens were present only in the sporozoite lysates, whereas PIM and p150 were found in both sporozoite and schizont lysates. The four antigens were expressed as recombinant fusion proteins and were compared with each other in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and in the whole-schizont-based indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) in terms of their ability to detect antibodies in sera of experimentally infected cattle. The PIM-based ELISA provided a higher degree of sensitivity and specificity than did the ELISA using the other three recombinant antigens or the IFAT. Further evaluation of the PIM-ELISA using experimental sera derived from cattle infected with different hemoparasites and field sera from endemic and nonendemic T. parva areas showed that the assay had a sensitivity of >99% and a specificity of between 94% and 98%. Received: 19 October 1997 / Accepted: 19 November 1997     

Immunization with Theileria parva parasites from buffaloes results in generation of cytotoxic T cells which recognize antigens common among cells infected with stocks of T. parva parva, T. parva bovis, and T. parva lawrencei.

Immunity to infection by the protozoan parasite Theileria parva in cattle is partially attributable to cytotoxic T cells, which kill lymphocytes infected with the schizont stage of the parasite. Here we evaluated five stocks of buffalo-derived T. parva lawrencei parasites and two stocks of cattle-derived T. parva parva parasites for their ability to induce in vivo cytotoxic T cells which can kill lymphocytes infected with a wide variety of strains of T. parva parasites. A group of seven full-sibling cattle, produced by embryo transfer and matched for at least one major histocompatibility complex class I haplotype, were immunized by infection and treatment with the parasite stocks. Target cells used in in vitro cytotoxicity assays were infected with five buffalo-derived parasite stocks and five cattle-derived parasite stocks, including T. parva parva and T. parva bovis. Immunization with any of the seven parasite stocks resulted in the generation of cytotoxic T cells which recognized parasite antigens on most if not all of the target cell lines tested, although the T. parva bovis stock was the least effective at doing so. Further in-depth analyses performed with peripheral blood mononuclear cells from one of the cattle immunized with T. parva lawrencei parasites showed that the pattern of killing of the panel of target cells was altered when either cells infected with different parasite stocks or clones of infected cells were used as stimulator cells in vitro, suggesting the presence of more than one population of parasite-specific cytotoxic effector cells in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells. However, clones of these cytotoxic effector cells recognized common or cross-reactive antigen epitopes expressed by the entire panel of infected target cells. These T-cell clones will be useful for identifying common T-cell antigen epitopes of T. parva and the parasite genes encoding them.     

Evidence for a common protective antigenic determinant on sporozoites of several Theileria parva strains

The antigenic relationship amongst sporozoites of several Theileria parva strans isolated from different parts of East Africa was investigated. It was found that antibodies to T. parva ( Muguga ) sporozoites neutralized the infectivity of homologous sporozoites as well as those of T. parva (Uganda), T. parva lawrencei , T. parva ( Kiambu 5), T. parva ( Kabete 1) and T. parva ( Marikebuni ). The results correlated with those obtained from an in vivo challenge, in that cattle immunized against T. parva ( Muguga ) were either solidly resistant or developed only a transient parasitosis when challenged with T. parva lawrencei or T. parva (Uganda). The immunity exhibited by these animals paralleled the level of anti-sporozoite antibodies, such that animas with high titres were completely protected whereas those with low levels developed transient parasitosis. Furthermore, monoclonal antibodies made against sporozoites of T. parva ( Muguga ) were also capable of neutralizing the infectivity of sporozoites of other strains. These results indicate that the outcome of cross-challenge may depend on the level and avidity of the anti-sporozoite antibodies at the time of challenge. In addition, these findings show that there is a common protective antigenic determinant on sporozoites of all the T. parva strains investigated in this study.     

Characterization of an insect cell-derived Theileria parva sporozoite vaccine antigen and immunogenicity in cattle.

Previous data showed that six out of a group of nine cattle inoculated with NS1-p67, a recombinant form of a 67-kDa Theileria parva sporozoite surface protein, were immune to East Coast fever. This bacterially expressed antigen encoded all 709 amino acid residues of p67 fused to the C-terminal end of 87 residues derived from NS1, a structural protein of influenza virus, and a linker DNA sequence. NS1-p67 lacked reactivity with TpM 12, a monoclonal antibody to native p67, and had an estimated molecular mass of 110 kDa, as opposed to the calculated mass of 85,000 Da. We have used the baculovirus expression system in an attempt to express this parasite protein in a native form and thereby increase the protective capacity of the antigen. However, Spodoptera frugiperda SF21AE cells infected with recombinant virus expressed p67 as a 100-kDa molecule. The host cells exhibited a limited capacity to glycosylate this molecule to a 110-kDa form, and p67 was not exported to the surface membrane. TpM 12 did not bind to these recombinant forms but, at time points late during viral infection, reacted with a molecule of about 70 kDa. Since the bulk of insect cell-derived p67 was not expressed in an appropriate form, we tested the immunogenicity of these partially processed recombinant p67 forms in cattle. Two groups of three cattle were inoculated with antigen formulated either with saponin or Freund's adjuvant. As seen previously with NS1-p67, all animals developed high levels of anti-p67 antibodies that neutralized sporozoite infectivity in vitro, but antigen-specific T-cell proliferative responses were not detected in peripheral blood. Given the caveat of the small number of cattle analyzed, insect cell-derived p67 does not appear to be superior to NS1-p67 as an immunogen, and the latter remains the molecule of choice for the development of vaccines against East Coast fever.     

A Theileria parva isolate of low virulence infects a subpopulation of lymphocytes

Theileria parva is a tick-transmitted protozoan parasite that infects and transforms bovine lymphocytes. We have previously shown that Theileria parva Chitongo is an isolate with a lower virulence than that of T. parva Muguga. Lower virulence appeared to be correlated with a delayed onset of the logarithmic growth phase of T. parva Chitongo-transformed peripheral blood mononuclear cells after in vitro infection. In the current study, infection experiments with WC1(+) γδ T cells revealed that only T. parva Muguga could infect these cells and that no transformed cells could be obtained with T. parva Chitongo sporozoites. Subsequent analysis of the susceptibility of different cell lines and purified populations of lymphocytes to infection and transformation by both isolates showed that T. parva Muguga sporozoites could attach to and infect CD4(+), CD8(+), and WC1(+) T lymphocytes, but T. parva Chitongo sporozoites were observed to bind only to the CD8(+) T cell population. Flow cytometry analysis of established, transformed clones confirmed this bias in target cells. T. parva Muguga-transformed clones consisted of different cell surface phenotypes, suggesting that they were derived from either host CD4(+), CD8(+), or WC1(+) T cells. In contrast, all in vitro and in vivo T. parva Chitongo-transformed clones expressed CD8 but not CD4 or WC1, suggesting that the T. parva Chitongo-transformed target cells were exclusively infected CD8(+) lymphocytes. Thus, a role of cell tropism in virulence is likely. Since the adhesion molecule p67 is 100% identical between the two strains, a second, high-affinity adhesin that determines target cell specificity appears to exist.     

Identification, cloning, expression, and characterization of the gene for Plasmodium knowlesi surface protein containing an altered thrombospondin repeat domain

Proteins present on the surface of malaria parasites that participate in the process of invasion and adhesion to host cells are considered attractive vaccine targets. Aided by the availability of the partially completed genome sequence of the simian malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi, we have identified a 786-bp DNA sequence that encodes a 262-amino-acid-long protein, containing an altered version of the thrombospondin type I repeat domain (SPATR). Thrombospondin type 1 repeat domains participate in biologically diverse functions, such as cell attachment, mobility, proliferation, and extracellular protease activities. The SPATR from P. knowlesi (PkSPATR) shares 61% and 58% sequence identity with its Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium yoelii orthologs, respectively. By immunofluorescence analysis, we determined that PkSPATR is a multistage antigen that is expressed on the surface of P. knowlesi sporozoite and erythrocytic stage parasites. Recombinant PkSPATR produced in Escherichia coli binds to a human hepatoma cell line, HepG2, suggesting that PkSPATR is a parasite ligand that could be involved in sporozoite invasion of liver cells. Furthermore, recombinant PkSPATR reacted with pooled sera from P. knowlesi-infected rhesus monkeys, indicating that native PkSPATR is immunogenic during infection. Further efficacy evaluation studies in the P. knowlesi-rhesus monkey sporozoite challenge model will help to decide whether the SPATR molecule should be developed as a vaccine against human malarias.     

An unusual mosaic structure of the PIM gene of Theileria parva and its relationship to allelic diversity

Genetic diversity and structural organisation of the polymorphic immunodominant molecule (PIM) gene of the protozoan parasite Theileria parva was studied in isolates from sympatric and allopatric areas. The analyses revealed a mosaic structure consisting of highly conserved regions shared among some of the isolates from geographically different areas and homologous sequence runs shared among isolates from one area. The specific pattern of diversity in which large insertions and deletions were observed, giving a mosaic structure to the PIM locus, is quite exceptional for single-locus genes. The polymorphic middle region of the gene was characterised by large deletions or insertions in many isolates. There was no correlation between the copy number of the tetrapeptide repeats in this region and the total length of the sequence. The gene was highly polymorphic when compared with sequences from other known T. parva antigenic regions.The findings support the concept that as yet unidentified mechanisms are generating extensive diversity and shaping the PIM locus. The relevance of this finding for diagnosis and the relationship between these mechanisms and the possible role of this protein in host immune responses is discussed.     

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.     

Monoclonal antibodies against the M-protein and carbohydrate antigens of histoplasmin characterized by the enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot method.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) of two different specificities were produced by immunizing mice with the semipurified M antigen of histoplasmin. One type, from clone CB4, was an immunoglobulin M that precipitated a polysaccharide present in histoplasmin and also formed immunoprecipitates with a cross-reactive polysaccharide present in extracts of Blastomyces dermatitidis and Coccidioides immitis. The second type of MAb, from clone EC2, was an immunoglobulin G that reacted in the enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) assay with a doublet of proteins with an apparent molecular size of 70 to 75 kilodaltons. This molecule is proposed as the authentic M protein antigen that is recognized by M antibodies in sera from mice and rabbits immunized with Histoplasma capsulatum and from persons with histoplasmosis. The M factor also occurs in an abundant disulfide-bridged dimer which has a molecular size of 150 kilodaltons and is nonimmunoreactive under the conditions of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.     

Parasite strain specificity of precursor cytotoxic T cells in individual animals correlates with cross-protection in cattle challenged with Theileria parva.

Class I major histocompatibility complex-restricted parasite-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) are known to be a major component of the bovine immune response to the protozoan parasite Theileria parva, but formal proof for their role in protection of cattle against infection with T. parva has been lacking. Animals immunized with one stock of T. parva show variations in the degree of protection against heterologous challenge and also in the parasite strain specificity of their CTL responses. The present study investigated the relationship of strain specificity of CTL responses and cross-protection in an effort to verify the role of CTL in protection. The parasite strain specificity of the CTL responses generated in 23 cattle immunized with either of two immunologically distinct parasite populations was examined, and the susceptibility of individual cattle to challenge with the heterologous parasite population was determined. The frequency of stock-specific or cross-reactive CTL precursor cells (CTLp) in individual animals was measured by a limiting-dilution microassay. A proportion of animals immunized with either parasite exhibited cross-reactive CTLp, whereas CTLp detected in the remaining animals were specific for the homologous parasite. On challenge with the heterologous stock, those animals with cross-reactive CTLp were solidly protected while those with strain-specific CTLp showed moderate to severe reactions, although many of them recovered. The finding of a close association between strain specificity of the CTL response and protection against challenge provides strong evidence that CTL are important in mediating immunity.