Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Molecular Biology Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
2
Department of Microbial Biotechnology, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
3
Department of Hydrobiology, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
4
Department of Zoonotic Diseases , Veterinary Research Division, National Research Center, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
Abstract
Worldwide, sarcocystosis infection in Egyptian buffaloes is common and lack a particular therapy. A parasite cysteine protease (CP) is involved in several biological and pathogenetic activities, including the parasites' adhesion to host cells, tissue invasion, cytotoxicity, intake of nutrients, and immune evasion. We have previously reported the sequence of purified cysteine protease from S. fusiforms cysts. Herein, the purified S. fusiformis cysteine protease (SFCP) is used as an immunogenic for antisera production. Immunization with the SFCP-antigen promoted the immune response in rabbits and rats, exhibiting elevated specific antibodies. Thus, the therapeutic potential of the prepared antisera and SFCP vaccination was evaluated by employing S. fusiformis-infected rats. The result demonstrated that SFCP and the prepared antisera alleviate the oocyst shedding and intestinal damage in S. fusiformis infected animals. The serum levels of Th1 cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-12 as well as the Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-6) were significantly increased in infected rats, with a maximum increase by ~1.75- 2.45 at week 2 post-infection compared to the control. Additionally, mRNA levels of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)1, NOD2, TNF-α, TLR4,TLR9, IFN-γ, IL-10,IL-6, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and IL-β were all up-regulated in the infected group compared to the control. However, the SFCP-vaccination and anti-SFCP sera modulate these elevations in serum and spleen. These findings demonstrated that the SFCP-vaccination and anti-SFCP sera could be novel therapeutic candidates for controlling S. fusiformis infection and its harmful effects.
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