Serodiagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection in cats by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using recombinant SAG1

The gene encoding surface antigen 1 (SAG1, P30) of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) was cloned into the plasmid pGEX-4T-3 and subsequently expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli) as a glutathione-S-transferase (GST) fusion protein. The recombinant SAG1 (rSAG1) was refolded using 8M urea solution followed by dialysis and thereafter evaluated in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serological diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. The test sera were adsorbed with GST to block non-specific reactivity to the GST-SAG1 fusion protein. The ELISA with rSAG1 was able to differentiate very clearly between sera from cats or mice experimentally infected with T. gondii and sera from normal cats or mice. The ELISA detected no cross-reactivity with sera from mice experimentally infected with the closely related parasite Neospora caninum (N. caninum). Some 193 cat sera were tested for antibodies to T. gondii, out of which 40 (20.7%) reacted positively by ELISA with the rSAG1 while another 79.3% cats reacted negative to the assay. Both positive and negative sera were confirmed by Western blot analysis. The results of ELISA were in agreement with those of a commercially available latex agglutination test (LAT) kit, although the former had higher titers than the latter.     

Evaluation of immune responses in sheep induced by DNA immunization with genes encoding GRA1, GRA4, GRA6 and GRA7 antigens of Toxoplasma gondii

The dense granule proteins of Toxoplasma gondii are investigated as possible vaccine candidates against the parasite. The aim of this research was to evaluate the immune responses of sheep injected twice, intramuscularly, with DNA plasmids encoding T. gondii dense granule antigens GRA1, GRA4, GRA6 and GRA7 formulated into liposomes. Control sheep were injected with an empty vector or received no injections. The injection of sheep with DNA plasmids encoding for GRA1, GRA4, GRA6 or GRA7 elicited an immune response after the first and the second injections as indicated by the moderate to high antibody responses. The injection of pGRA7 induced a significant level of anti-GRA7 IgG2 antibody and IFN-γ responses indicating a Th1-like immune response whereas injection with pGRA1, pGRA4 and pGRA6 stimulated a IgG1 type antibody response with a limited, if any, IFN-γ response. The results demonstrate that the intramuscular injection of sheep with a DNA liposome formulated plasmid coding for GRA proteins is an effective system that induces a significant immune response against T. gondii.     

弓形虫胚层发育相关蛋白的原核表达及免疫原性研究

试验旨在研究弓形虫胚层发育相关蛋白（TgERP）的免疫原性,以弓形虫RH株的基因组DNA为模板,扩增TgERP基因,将其连接于表达载体pET-30a(+)后,转化至Escherichia coli BL21（DE3）感受态细胞进行IPTG诱导表达,应用Western blotting对重组蛋白的反应原性进行分析,并用纯化后的TgERP蛋白免疫新西兰大白兔,制备多克隆抗体。结果显示,在37 ℃条件下用1.0 mmol/L IPTG诱导6 h表达可溶性TgERP蛋白的量最大。SDS-PAGE结果显示,目的蛋白分子质量为16.7 ku,以可溶形式表达,纯化后蛋白条带单一。经Western blotting分析,TgERP蛋白有较好的反应原性;制备的多克隆抗体效价较高,可达1∶51200,表明该蛋白具有较好免疫原性。提示,TgERP蛋白可作为血清学诊断方法的候选抗原和弓形虫病疫苗的候选分子,为建立弓形虫新型诊断方法和研制新型弓形虫疫苗奠定了基础。     

IFN-γ expression and infectivity of Toxoplasma infected tissues are associated with an antibody response against GRA7 in experimentally infected pigs

Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular parasite, can be transmitted to humans via the consumption of infected meat. However, there are currently no veterinary diagnostic tests available for the screening of animals at slaughter. In the current work, we investigated whether cytokine responses in the blood, and antibody responses against recombinant T. gondii GRA1, GRA7, MIC3 proteins and a chimeric antigen EC2 encoding MIC2-MIC3-SAG1, are associated with the infectivity of porcine tissues after experimental infection with T. gondii. Two weeks after experimental infection of conventional 5-week-old seronegative pigs, an IFN-γ response was detected in the blood, with a kinetic profile that followed the magnitude of the GRA7 antibody response. Antibody responses to GRA1, MIC3 and EC2 were very weak or absent up to 6 weeks post infection. Antibodies against GRA7 occurred in all infected animals and were associated with the presence of the parasite in tissues at euthanasia a few months later, as demonstrated by quantitative real-time PCR and isolation by bio-assay. Remarkably, although brain and heart tissue remained infectious, musculus gastrocnemius and musculus longissimus dorsi were found clear of infectious parasites 6 months after experimental infection. Seropositive response in a GRA7 ELISA indicates a Toxoplasma infection in pigs and is predictive of the presence of infectious cysts in pig heart and brain. This new ELISA is a promising tool to study the prevalence of Toxoplasma infection in pigs. Clearance of the infection in certain pig tissues suggests that the risk assessment of pig meat for human health needs further evaluation.     

Comparison Between Elisa and Dye Test for Detection of Naturally Acquired Toxoplasma Gondii Antibodies in the Goat

Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies were measured in 212 goat sera, comparing the Sabin-Feldman dye-test and a three-layer sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). With 98 % concordance obtained between these 2 tests, the results are at the same paragon as for human sera. Accordingly, the ELISA sandwich procedure appears to be suitable for large-scale analysis of goat sera. The discordant 2 % were ELISA positive and dye-test negative. One possible explanation of the divergent titres is given using an immunized goat model.Key words: Toxoplasma gondii, goat, antibodies, dye-test, ELISA     

Modified protection against Toxoplasma gondii lethal infection and brain cyst formation by vaccination with SAG2 and SRS1

Numerous studies have supported the importance of immunity to SAG1, the most predominant antigen of Toxoplasma tachyzoite, in protection against Toxoplasma gondii infection. Nevertheless, vaccination with SAGI provides insufficient protection when compared with that of Toxoplasma lysate (TL). In order to screen the Toxoplasma antigens for immunogenic potential shown by modified protection or induction of specific immune response after infection, recombinant antigens were prepared in Eschericha coli using DNA fragments corresponding to SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, SRS1 and P54 of T. gondii RH strain maintained in our laboratory. Each of the recombinant antigen products or a mixture of the five antigens (Mix) was used to vaccinate mice. Mice then received a lethal dose of T. gondii. Up to 25% of the mice vaccinated with SAG2, SRS1, P54 and Mix survived, whereas there were no survivors in gene 10- (negative control), SAG1- and SAG3- vaccinated groups. In all the survivors, brain cysts were not observed. Conversely, vaccination with TL almost completely protected mice in the acute phase but permitted brain cyst formation and resulted in gradual decrease of survivors to 33% during 4 months of experiments. Western blot analysis on convalescent sera showed an extensive IgG induction to a 30 kDa antigen in TL-vaccinated mice, a 22 kDa in SAG2-vaccinated mice and a 55 kDa in P54-vaccinated mice. The protection modified by boost in specific antibody is suggestive of the immunogenic potential of SAG2, SRS1 and possibly P54 against T. gondii infection.     

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum infections in goats in Poland

In 2007 a survey on herd-level seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum infections in goats in Poland was carried out. Sera were collected from all 49 breeding goat herds, scattered over the entire country, with the vast majority of them located in the western, central and northern provinces. Only adult females (≥12 months of age) were included in the study. A herd was recorded as infected if at least one seropositive female was detected. In each herd, simple random sampling was applied and sample size was determined in a way, which allowed to evaluate serological status of a herd at expected individual-level seroprevalence 10% and level of confidence 95%. In total, 1060 sera were tested using two commercial indirect ELISA kits. Sera positive to N. caninum were subsequently confirmed with IFAT. The true herd-level seroprevalence was 100% for T. gondii and 9.0% for N. caninum infection. Three herds positive to T. gondii infection were randomly selected and all adult goats were tested with an ELISA. Individual-level true seroprevalence in these herds ranged from 30.2% to 100%. This is the first time that antibodies to N. caninum have been detected in goats in Poland.     

Prevalence of specific IgG-antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in domestic turkeys determined by kinetic ELISA based on recombinant GRA7 and GRA8

The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma (T.) gondii is one of the most common zoonotic infectious agents worldwide. Besides its sexual reproduction in cats, T. gondii can also infect a wide spectrum of other warm-blooded animals. These include animals used for human consumption such as pigs or chickens. Nevertheless, the role of turkeys for the epidemiology of T. gondii infections has not been studied thoroughly. We have established a kinetic ELISA (KELA) for the detection of T. gondii-specific IgG antibodies in turkey serum samples. The test is based on the recombinant dense granule antigens GRA7 and GRA8. These proteins were used as an antigen mixture at a concentration of 0.13 μg per well. The overall sensitivity of the assay was between 92.6% and 100% and the specificity ranged from 78.1% to 100%, depending on the method used to calculate these parameters. Using this KELA we examined 1913 turkey serum samples from 14 turkey farms from different areas of Germany. From these sera, 387 produced a signal in the KELA, corresponding to a true seroprevalence of up to 20.2%. The seropositivity rate in individual fattening cycles at individual farms ranged from 0.0% to 77.1%, whereas the rates were highly variable within the individual farms and individual fattening cycles. Consequently, conditions of animal husbandry could not be associated with particular seroprevalence rates. Although seropositivity cannot be linked directly to infectious tissue cysts in the muscle tissue of commercially produced turkey meat, we state that there is a potential risk of being infected by consuming turkey meat products that were not heat treated.     

Application of recombinant antigens in serodiagnosis of swine toxoplasmosis and prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among pigs in Poland

In this study, to determine the prevalence of swine toxoplasmosis, 1754 pigs from different regions of Poland were tested for IgG antibodies by an in-house ELISA technique based on native Toxoplasma lysate antigen. Seropositive individuals were found in 19.2% of the examined population. The diagnostic usefulness of three T. gondii recombinant antigens (rMAG1, rSAG1, and rGRA7), either individually or in cocktails (M1: rMAG1 + rSAG1; M2: rMAG1 + rGRA7; M3: rSAG1 + rGRA7; M4: rMAG1 + rSAG1 + rGRA7) were also assessed with serum samples from naturally infected pigs by ELISA analysis. Both rSAG1 and rGRA7 antigens detected specific IgG antibodies with a similar sensitivity (85.3% and 81.3%, respectively), whereas the lower sensitivity was obtained for rMAG1 (only 64%). Better results of reactivity were obtained for mixtures of two antigens: M1 (86.7%), M2 (89.3%) and M3 (92%). Furthermore, the reactivity of three antigens cocktail M4 (97.3%) was much higher than that of individual proteins and combinations containing two antigens. These results suggest that the combination of three recombinant antigens might be useful for the serological detection of T. gondii infection in pigs.     

犬弓形虫抗体间接ELISA检测方法的建立

试验以利用重组弓形虫SAG1基因转染蜥蜴利什曼原虫所表达获得的目的蛋白作为包被抗原,建立了一种快速、特异、可检测犬弓形虫抗体的间接ELISA方法。确定了抗原最佳包被浓度为6.75 μg/mL,血清最佳稀释度为1∶100,对已知阳性血清检测的下限可达1∶6400,批间和批内重复性试验的变异系数均小于10%,包被抗原的酶标板在4、-20 ℃环境中可保存8个月以上。建立的间接ELISA方法应用于犬弓形虫抗体的检测具有较好的敏感性及特异性。     

羊弓形虫病间接ELISA诊断方法的建立

为比较5种弓形虫抗原的诊断效果,建立实用的羊弓形虫病诊断方法,本研究制备了弓形虫速殖子全虫抗原和4个重组蛋白(GRA1、MIC3、MAG、BAG1),正交试验比较其免疫反应性,从中筛选出相对优势抗原并建立羊弓形虫病间接ELISA(iELISA)诊断方法,用于检测弓形虫特异的IgG抗体.研究结果表明:除BAG1外上述4种...     

Serological survey and first finding of Neospora caninum in Taiwan, and the detection of its antibodies in various body fluids of cattle

A serological survey for antibodies against Neospora caninum in cattle, goats and farm dogs in Taiwan was carried out. Sera of 613 cattle from 25 dairy farms, 24 goats from six goat farms and 13 dogs from six dairy cattle farms were tested for antibodies against N. caninum using indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT). The same sera were also tested for antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii using latex agglutination test. Of the 613 cattle sera, 44.9% (275/613) were found to have antibodies against N. caninum. Among these 275 positive cattle, 77 also possessed antibodies against T. gondii. Nevertheless, 92 cattle which were negative for N. caninum showed antibodies against T. gondii. Of the 24 goat sera tested, none was found to be positive for N. caninum but 50% (12/24) were positive for T. gondii. Of the 13 farm dogs tested, three were found to possess antibodies against N. caninum, two of which tested negative for T. gondii antibodies. Besides sera, antibodies to N. caninum in cattle could be observed in the milk, vaginal secretion and saliva. However, the order of higher frequency of antibodies detection is in sera, milk, vaginal secretion and saliva. This is the first demonstration of the presence of antibodies to N. caninum in vaginal secretion and saliva of cattle. A 50microm cyst was observed in the brain of one of the 13 prednisolone-treated SPF ICR mice which had been peritoneally inoculated 4 months earlier with the brain homogenate of a serologically N. caninum positive but T. gondii negative cattle. Thus, we have confirmed for the first time the presence of N. caninum in Taiwan and also observed that it is widespread among dairy cattle and farm dogs.     

Prokaryotic Expression and Immunogenicity Identification of Bluetongue Virus VP7 Protein

To obtain VP7 protein of bluetongue virus (25 type), VP7 gene was amplified and cloned in pET-24b(+) expression vector.The pET-24b-BTV-VP7 recombinant plasmid was transformed into BL21 (DE3), then the VP7 protein of bluetongue virus was expressed using IPTG and purified by nickel affinity chromatography in vitro.Immunogenicity of VP7 protein was determined by Western blotting and ELISA.The results showed that the molecular weight of VP7 protein was about 40 ku and it could react with goat positive serum specifically.This study laid the foundation for establishing protein chip detection methods in the future.     

蓝舌病病毒VP7蛋白的原核表达及免疫原性鉴定

为获得蓝舌病病毒(bluetongue virus,BTV)25型的VP7原核表达蛋白,本试验以蓝舌病病毒重组质粒为模板,PCR扩增VP7基因,将其克隆于pET-24b(+)表达载体中,获得pET-24b-BTV-VP7重组质粒。经酶切和测序鉴定后,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)受体菌,IPTG诱导表达His-BTV-VP7蛋白。在变性条件下用镍亲和层析柱纯化His-BTV-VP7蛋白,经Western blotting及ELISA鉴定其免疫原性。结果显示,His-BTV-VP7蛋白以包涵体形式表达,大小约为40 ku;Western blotting和ELISA检测此原核表达蛋白能与山羊阳性血清发生特异性反应,具有良好的免疫原性。本研究为后续建立蛋白芯片检测方法奠定了基础。     

Experience with simple ELISA test systems for Brucella serology in cattle, sheep and goats

The objective of this work was to use the ELISA technique for the serological surveillance for freedom of brucellosis of cattle, sheep and goats. By comparing 28 cattle sera taken after a brucellosis outbreak, 15 bovine sera supplied by the Federal Institute for Health Protection of Consumers and Veterinary Medicine (BgVV) and 497 serum slow agglutination test (SSAT) and complement fixation test (CFT) negative bovine sera from herds officially declared free of brucellosis, the ELISA technique not only shows higher sensitivity as compared to SSAT and CFT but also distinguishes clearly between positive and negative reactions. The serological comparison by SSAT, CFT and ELISA of 615 cattle, 624 sheep and 630 goat sera from herds acknowledged as brucellosis free showed equivalent specificities for both CFT and ELISA. The specificity of the SSAT was much lower, 81.1% in cattle and 96.2% in goat sera. The examination of 5796 cattle, 1337 calf, 5031 sheep and 1796 goat sera demonstrates the advantage of the ELISA technique as routine method. The possible application of the ELISA technique as a screening method for serological brucellosis tests in sheep, goats and possibly also in pigs is discussed.     

Studies on serological cross-reaction of Neospora caninum with Toxoplasma gondii and Hammondia heydorni

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to examine cross-reactivity of Neospora caninum with Toxoplasma gondii and Hammondia heydorni. Anti-T. gondii mouse and cat sera cross-reacted with N. caninum soluble antigen (NLA), but not with the recombinant surface antigen (NcSRS2). Anti-H. heydorni dog sera showed no cross-reactivity with either the NLA antigen or the NcSRS2. Lack of cross-reactivity between anti-H. heydorni sera and N. caninum antigens, and the cross-reactivity of anti-T. gondii sera with the NLA suggest that N. caninum has common antigens to T. gondii except for NcSRS2 based on serology. In light of several studies suggesting a closer relationship between N. caninum and H. heydorni than with T gondii, examination of serological cross-reactivity with N. caninum may be necessary to further classify the parasites in addition to molecular and morphological studies and clarification of the life cycle.     

含有分子内佐剂的CIC蛋白表达及免疫活性初步研究

为了研究含有分子内佐剂的CTB-IsdBid-Clfais（CIC）蛋白表达及其免疫活性,试验采用重叠PCR方法将分子内佐剂CTB与IsdBid-Clfais基因串联,并将CTB-IsdBid-Clfais（CIC）插入到表达载体pET-32a（+）中,构建pET-32a（+）-CTB-IsdBid-Clfais重组质粒,将鉴定正确的重组质粒转化到大肠杆菌BL21感受态细胞中表达目的蛋白CIC,利用Western blotting方法对其进行鉴定,并以ELISA方法检测CIC蛋白的免疫活性。结果发现,试验成功扩增了2 072 bp的目的基因CIC,并将CIC正确连接到pET-32a（+）载体上,构建了pET-32a（+）-CTB-IsdBid-Clfais重组质粒;Western blotting结果证实,该重组质粒能够在大肠杆菌BL21感受态细胞中正确表达CIC蛋白,分子质量大小为95.9 ku;ELISA结果显示,CIC试验组与IsdBid、Clfais蛋白组间均无显著差异（P>0.05）,与BSA组间差异极显著（P<0.01）。综上所述,本研究成功构建了pET-32a（+）-CTB-IsdBid-Clfais重组质粒,该质粒在大肠杆菌BL21中成功表达了CIC蛋白,且CIC能与IsdBid、Clfais免疫小鼠血清发生反应,具有较强的免疫活性。     

High prevalence and genotypes of Toxoplasma gondii isolated from organic pigs in northern USA

The ingestion of undercooked pork infected with Toxoplasma gondii is considered an important source of transmission of this parasite. While T. gondii infection in confinement raised market pigs (market pigs are typically used for fresh, unprocessed pork products) in the USA has decreased significantly over the last 20 years, infection levels in pigs with access to the outdoors can be quite high. An upsurge in consumer demand for 'organically raised', 'humanely raised' and 'free range' pork products has resulted in increasing numbers of hogs being raised in non-confinement systems. To determine T. gondii infection rate in these organic pigs, prevalence of T. gondii in organically raised pigs in two establishments (Farm 1, Farm 2) in Michigan was investigated. Serum and tissue samples from 33 pigs on the farm were available for T. gondii evaluation at slaughter. Serological testing was performed using both ELISA and the modified agglutination test (MAT). Antibodies to T. gondii were detected by both ELISA and MAT in 30 of 33 animals with MAT titers of 1:25 in three, 1:50 in six, 1:100 in seven, 1:200 in 13, and 1:400 in one. Hearts of all 33 pigs were bioassayed for T. gondii in mice; T. gondii was isolated from 17 pigs including one from a seronegative (both ELISA and MAT) pig. Genetic typing of 16 of the 17 T. gondii isolates using the SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1 and Apico loci revealed clonal Type II from Farm 1 and clonal Type III on Farm 2. These results revealed very high prevalence of T. gondii in organic pigs for the first time in USA, indicating potentially increased health risk of consuming organic swine products.     

Study on Expression and Preliminary Immunocompetence of CIC Protein Containing Molecular Adjuvants

To express CTB-IsdBid-Clfais(CIC) protein and evaluate its immunogenicity, CTB (as a molecular adjuvant) could be tandem linked with IsdBid-Clfais gene by the overlapping PCR method, then CTB-IsdBid-Clfais(CIC) was inserted into pET-32a(+) vector to construct recombinant plasmids pET-32a(+)-CTB-IsdBid-Clfais. The recombinant plasmids pET-32a(+)-CTB-IsdBid-Clfais were transformed into Escherichia coli (E.coli) BL21 to express the CTB-IsdBid-Clfa(CIC) protein, the CIC expression protein and its immune activity were detected by Western blotting and ELISA,respectively. The results showed that the length of CIC gene were 2 072 bp, and CIC was correctly inserted into the pET-32a(+) plasmids, the pET-32a(+)-CTB-IsdBid-Clfais recombinant plasmids were successfully constructed. Western blotting result confirmed that the molecular weight of CIC proteins was 95.9 ku, which were correctly expressed by E.coli BL21 with pET-32a (+)-CTB-IsdBid-Clfais plasmids. ELISA results showed that there was no significant difference among the CIC, IsdBid and Clfais protein groups (P>0.05), and there was extremely significant difference between CIC and BSA protein groups (P<0.01). In conclusion, the pET-32a(+)-CTB-IsdBid-Clfais recombinant plasmids were successfully constructed, CIC proteins were correctly expressed, and were able to react with serum from mice immunized with IsdBid and Clfais,respectively,therefore, CIC proteins had strong immune activity.     

Small ruminant lentiviruses in Jordan: evaluation of sheep and goat serological response using recombinant and peptide antigens

Small ruminant lentiviruses infect sheep and goats worldwide, causing chronic progressive diseases and relevant economic losses. Disease eradication and prevention is mostly based on serological testing. The goal of this research was to investigate the presence of the small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) in Jordan and to characterize the serological response in sheep and goat populations. A panel of sera were collected from flocks located in Northern Jordan and Jordan Valley. The samples were tested using three ELISA assays: a commercially available ELISA based on p25 recombinant protein and transmembrane peptide derived from British maedi–visna virus (MVV) EV1 strain, an ELISA based on P16-P25 recombinant protein derived from two Italian strains representative of MVV- and caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV)-like SRLVs, and an ELISA based on SU5 peptide from the same two Italian isolates. The results indicate that both MVV- and CAEV-like strains are present in Jordan and that the majority of the viruses circulating among sheep and goat populations belong to the MVV-like genotype.