MIC3, a novel cross-protective antigen expressed in Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum

Parasitol Res. 2015 Oct;114(10):3791-9. doi: 10.1007/s00436-015-4609-6. Epub 2015 Jul 5.

Abstract

Microneme protein 3 (MIC3) is an important adhesion molecule expressed by Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum that plays a crucial role in invasion. In our study, we found that recombinant TgMIC3 (rTgMIC3) was recognized by both T. gondii-reactive sera and hyper-immune serum against N. caninum. Polyclonal antibodies against TgMIC3 reacted with N. caninum by western blot and immunofluorescence assay (IFA). These results indicate that MIC3 is a novel cross-reactive antigen expressed in N. caninum and T. gondii. To evaluate the immune-protective effect of TgMIC3, we created the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1-TgMIC3, transfected this vector into HEK293T cells by lipofection, and evaluated TgMIC3 expression in HEK293T cells using western blot and IFA. Then, groups of BALB/c mice were immunized with recombinant TgMIC3 protein, pcDNA3.1-TgMIC3, or two-vaccine immunization. The mice were challenged with T. gondii RH or N. caninum Nc-1 tachyzoites 14 days after the final immunization. The survival time of T. gondii-infected mice was recorded, and the parasite burden in the brain of N. caninum-infected mice 30 days post-infection was measured using real-time PCR. The results demonstrated that mice immunized with TgMIC3-based vaccines elicited high antibody titers. After parasitic challenge, mice immunized with pcDNA-TgMIC3 exhibited prolonged survival when infected with T. gondii tachyzoites and a lower parasitic burden in the brains of mice challenged with N. caninum tachyzoites. These results demonstrate that TgMIC3 is a cross-protective antigen expressed in T. gondii and N. caninum and could elicit some protection against toxoplasmosis and neosporosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Protozoan / genetics
  • Antigens, Protozoan / immunology
  • Antigens, Protozoan / metabolism*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Brain / parasitology
  • Cross Reactions
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Female
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Immunization
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Neospora / immunology
  • Neospora / metabolism*
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics
  • Protozoan Proteins / immunology
  • Protozoan Proteins / metabolism
  • Protozoan Vaccines / immunology*
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Toxoplasma / immunology
  • Toxoplasma / metabolism*
  • Toxoplasmosis / immunology
  • Toxoplasmosis / prevention & control*
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • Cytokines
  • MIC3 protein, Toxoplasma gondii
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Protozoan Vaccines
  • Recombinant Proteins