Generation of Toxoplasma gondii GRA1 protein and DNA vaccine loaded chitosan particles: preparation, characterization, and preliminary in vivo studies

2003 ◽  
Vol 266 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 17-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maytal Bivas-Benita ◽  
Marleen Laloup ◽  
Soetkin Versteyhe ◽  
Joelle Dewit ◽  
Jos De Braekeleer ◽  
...  
2004 ◽  
Vol 72 (12) ◽  
pp. 7240-7246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marion Pepper ◽  
Florence Dzierszinski ◽  
Amy Crawford ◽  
Christopher A. Hunter ◽  
David Roos

ABSTRACT The study of the immune response to Toxoplasma gondii has provided numerous insights into the role of T cells in resistance to intracellular infections. However, the complexity of this eukaryote pathogen has made it difficult to characterize immunodominant epitopes that would allow the identification of T cells with a known specificity for parasite antigens. As a consequence, analysis of T-cell responses to T. gondii has been based on characterization of the percentage of T cells that express an activated phenotype during infection and on the ability of these cells to produce cytokines in response to complex mixtures of parasite antigens. In order to study specific CD4+ T cells responses to T. gondii, recombinant parasites that express a truncated ovalbumin (OVA) protein, in either a cytosolic or a secreted form, were engineered. In vitro and in vivo studies reveal that transgenic parasites expressing secreted OVA are able to stimulate T-cell receptor-transgenic OVA-specific CD4+ T cells to proliferate, express an activated phenotype, and produce gamma interferon (IFN-γ). Furthermore, the adoptive transfer of OVA-specific T cells into IFN-γ−/− mice provided enhanced protection against infection with the OVA-transgenic (but not parental) parasites. Together, these studies establish the utility of this transgenic system to study CD4+-T-cell responses during toxoplasmosis.


Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1582
Author(s):  
Zhengqing Yu ◽  
Yujia Lu ◽  
Wandi Cao ◽  
Muhammad Tahir Aleem ◽  
Junlong Liu ◽  
...  

The pathogen of toxoplasmosis, Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), is a zoonotic protozoon that can affect the health of warm-blooded animals including humans. Up to now, an effective vaccine with completely protection is still inaccessible. In this study, the DNA vaccine encoding T. gondii histone deacetylase SIR2 (pVAX1-SIR2) was constructed. To enhance the efficacy, chitosan and poly (d, l-lactic-co-glycolic)-acid (PLGA) were employed to design nanospheres loaded with the DNA vaccine, denoted as pVAX1-SIR2/CS and pVAX1-SIR2/PLGA nanospheres. The pVAX1-SIR2 plasmids were transfected into HEK 293-T cells, and the expression was evaluated by a laser scanning confocal microscopy. Then, the immune protections of pVAX1-SIR2 plasmid, pVAX1-SIR2/CS nanospheres, and pVAX1-SIR2/PLGA nanospheres were evaluated in a laboratory animal model. The in vivo findings indicated that pVAX1-SIR2/CS and pVAX1-SIR2/PLGA nanospheres could generate a mixed Th1/Th2 immune response, as indicated by the regulated production of antibodies and cytokines, the enhanced maturation and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) expression of dendritic cells (DCs), the induced splenocyte proliferation, and the increased percentages of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. Furthermore, this enhanced immunity could obviously reduce the parasite burden in immunized animals through a lethal dose of T. gondii RH strain challenge. All these results propose that pVAX1-SIR2 plasmids entrapped in chitosan or PLGA nanospheres could be the promising vaccines against acute T. gondii infections and deserve further investigations.


1996 ◽  
Vol 40 (9) ◽  
pp. 2015-2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Romand ◽  
C Della Bruna ◽  
R Farinotti ◽  
F Derouin

The efficacy of rifabutin (RIFA) alone or in combination with atovaquone (ATO) was examined in vitro and in a murine model of acute toxoplasmosis. In vitro studies were performed with MRC5 fibroblast tissue cultures, with quantification of Toxoplasma growth by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. For in vivo studies, mice were acutely infected with 10(4) tachyzoites of the virulent RH strain and were then treated perorally for 10 days from day 1 or day 4 postinfection. The efficacy of each drug regimen was assessed by determination of survival rates and sequential titration of parasites in blood, brain, and lungs by a tissue culture method. In vitro, RIFA was inhibitory for Toxoplasma growth at concentrations between 0.5 and 20 micrograms/ml; the 50% inhibitory concentration was estimated to be 1.68 micrograms/ml. When RIFA and ATO were combined, synergistic effects were noted for RIFA at 20 micrograms/ml combined with ATO at 0.01 or 0.02 microgram/ml and RIFA at 1, 2, or 5 micrograms/ml combined with ATO at 0.02 microgram/ml. In vivo, administration of RIFA at 200 mg/kg of body weight per day from day 1 to day 10 resulted in a 100% protection during treatment, with clearance of parasites from the blood, brain, and lungs. After the cessation of therapy, relapses occurred in the brain and lungs; the mortality was 46% at the end of the experiment (day 30). Among the mice treated with RIFA at 200 mg/kg/day from day 4 to day 14, no death was recorded during the treatment period and a marked reduction in parasite burdens was observed in blood and tissues; however, relapses occurred and 10% of mice survived until day 30. Administration of RIFA at 200 mg/kg/day in combination with ATO at 100 mg/kg/day resulted in a marked prolongation of survival compared with that for mice that received ATO or RIFA alone. However, in mice receiving the combination, parasite burdens in blood and organs were similar to those in mice treated with RIFA alone. These results confirmed the activity of RIFA in the treatment of acute toxoplasmosis and the potential of the combination of RIFA-ATO since the two drugs act synergistically against Toxoplasma gondii.


2001 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. 645-651
Author(s):  
M. Peeva ◽  
M. Shopova ◽  
U. Michelsen ◽  
D. Wöhrle ◽  
G. Petrov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  

2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. S198-S198
Author(s):  
Joseph R Meno ◽  
Thien-son K Nguyen ◽  
Elise M Jensen ◽  
G Alexander West ◽  
Leonid Groysman ◽  
...  

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (06) ◽  
pp. 942-946 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raffaele Landolfi ◽  
Erica De Candia ◽  
Bianca Rocca ◽  
Giovanni Ciabattoni ◽  
Armando Antinori ◽  
...  

SummarySeveral “in vitro” and “in vivo” studies indicate that heparin administration may affect platelet function. In this study we investigated the effects of prophylactic heparin on thromboxane (Tx)A2 biosynthesis “in vivo”, as assessed by the urinary excretion of major enzymatic metabolites 11-dehydro-TxB2 and 2,3-dinor-TxB2. Twenty-four patients who were candidates for cholecystectomy because of uncomplicated lithiasis were randomly assigned to receive placebo, unfractionated heparin, low molecular weight heparin or unfractionaed heparin plus 100 mg aspirin. Measurements of daily excretion of Tx metabolites were performed before and during the treatment. In the groups assigned to placebo and to low molecular weight heparin there was no statistically significant modification of Tx metabolite excretion while patients receiving unfractionated heparin had a significant increase of both metabolites (11-dehydro-TxB2: 3844 ± 1388 vs 2092 ±777, p <0.05; 2,3-dinor-TxB2: 2737 ± 808 vs 1535 ± 771 pg/mg creatinine, p <0.05). In patients randomized to receive low-dose aspirin plus unfractionated heparin the excretion of the two metabolites was largely suppressed thus suggesting that platelets are the primary source of enhanced thromboxane biosynthesis associated with heparin administration. These data indicate that unfractionated heparin causes platelet activation “in vivo” and suggest that the use of low molecular weight heparin may avoid this complication.


1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (05) ◽  
pp. 659-662 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Bellucci ◽  
W Kedra ◽  
H Groussin ◽  
N Jaillet ◽  
P Molho-Sabatier ◽  
...  

SummaryA double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study with BAY U3405, a specific thromboxane A2 (TX A2) receptor blocker, was performed in patients suffering from severe stade II limb arteriopathy. BAY U3405 or placebo was administered in 16 patients at 20 mg four times a day (from day 1 to day 3). Hemostatic studies were done before therapy, and on day 2 and day 3 under therapy. On day 3, BAY U3405 was shown to induce a highly statistically significant decrease of the velocity and the intensity of the aggregations mediated by arachidonic acid (56 ± 37% for the velocity, 58 ± 26% for the intensity) or by U46619 endoperoxide analogue (36 ± 35% for the velocity, 37 ± 27% for the intensity). Similar results were already observed on day 2. By contrast, such a decrease was not noticed with ADP mediated platelet aggregation. Furthermore, plasma levels of betathrombo-globulin and platelet factor 4 remained unchanged. Peripheral hemodynamic parameters were also studied. The peripheral blood flow was measured using a Doppler ultrasound; the pain free walking distance and the total walking ability distance were determined under standardized conditions on a treadmill. These last two parameters show a trend to improvement which nevertheless was not statistically significant. All together these results encourage further in vivo studies using BAY U3405 or related compounds on a long-term administration.


1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (04) ◽  
pp. 549-555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter A Wuillemin ◽  
C Erik Hack ◽  
Wim K Bleeker ◽  
Bart J Biemond ◽  
Marcel Levi ◽  
...  

SummaryC1-inhibitor (C1Inh), antithrombin III (ATIII), α1-antitrypsin (a1AT), and α2-antiplasmin (a2AP) are known inhibitors of factor XIa (FXIa). However, their precise contribution to FXIa inactivation in vivo is not known. We investigated FXIa inactivation in chimpanzees and assessed the contribution of these inhibitors to FXIa inactivation in patients with presumed FXI activation.Chimpanzees were infused with FXIa and the various FXIa-FXIa inhibitor complexes formed were measured. Most of FXIa was complexed to C1Inh (68%), followed by a2AP (13%), a1AT (10%), and ATIII (9%). Analysis of the plasma elimination kinetics revealed a half-life time of clearance (t1/2) for the FXIa-FXIa inhibitor complexes of 95 to 104 min, except for FXIa-a1AT, which had a t1/2 of 349 min. Due to this long t1/2, FXIa-a1AT complexes were predicted to show the highest levels in plasma samples from patients with activation of FXI. This was indeed shown in patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation, recent myocardial infarction or unstable angina pectoris. We conclude from this study that in vivo C1Inh is the predominant inhibitor of FXIa, but that FXIa-a1 AT complexes due to their relatively long t1/2 may be the best parameter to assess FXI activation in clinical samples.


1972 ◽  
Vol 27 (01) ◽  
pp. 063-071
Author(s):  
S. G Iatridis ◽  
P. G Iatridis

SummaryThe present investigation deals with in vivo studies of possible relations of active Hageman factor (HFa) to the problems of thrombolysis. The study is based upon animal experimentation in which 40 normal, 5 dicumarolized and 5 heparinized rabbits each received ellagic acid (Elac 10-2 M) by intravenous continuous infusion at a rate of 1 ml/min for a period of 25 min. The data suggest that the Elac infusion induced in vivo activation of HF. Streptokinase (SK) injection 25 min from the start of Elac i. v. infusion failed to induce clot lysis in blood drawn one min after its injection. The phenomenon was more prominent with low (SK 250 U or 500 U) concentrations of SK. With higher concentrations, SK-induced clot lysis activity was not affected by Elac infusion.In dicumarolized and heparinized rabbits Elac infusion still counteracted the fibrinolysis activating effect of low concentration of SK. The possibility that the above described phenomenon was due to either hypercoagulability or to a non-specific inhibitory effect of Elac upon SK was explored and excluded.It is concluded that HFa and SK have the same site of action. Thus it seems that HFa may block the precursor upon which SK acts by forming a complex with it. It is stressed that activation of this precursor by HFa requires a suitable surface.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document