Immunity to Babesia in mice. III. The effects of corticosteroids and anti-thymocyte serum on mice immune to Babesia rodhaini

BALB/c mice, immunized against Babesia rodhaini by an amicarbalide controlled infection, were exposed to selective immunosuppressive treatment with corticosteroids and anti-thymocyte serum (ATS) respectively. Hydrocortisone acetate, 100 mg/kg, given i.p. six times during the three weeks after challenge inoculation caused a rising parasitaemia and high mortality (6/7). Dexamethasone in the drinking water at 20 mg/l or 10 mg/l for 22 days had a similar suppressive effect on the protection against B. rodhaini. Mortality, 100% at the dose rate of 20 mg/l and 50% at 10 mg/l, occurred both in challenged and in carrier animals after the reappearance of parasites in the bloodstream. All the ATS-treated immune mice demonstrated parasitaemia after challenge, although at a lower level than did the corticosteroid treated mice. Seven out of 9 animals died. Corticosteroid-sensitive macrophages together with T-lymphocytes are considered to play an important role in protection against B. rodhaini in specifically induced immunity in mice.     

Immunity to Babesia in mice. I. Adoptive transfer of immunity to Babesia rodhaini with immune spleen cells and the effect of irradiation on the protection of immune mice

Immunisation of Balb/c mice against Babesia rodhaini by an amicarbalide-controlled infection resulted in a solid immunity which lasted for 216 days. With spleen cells of immune mice protection could be transferred both to naive mice pretreated with cyclophosphamide. Treatment of naive mice with cyclophosphamide (300 mg/kg) five days before a lethal B. rodhaini inoculation resulted in over 50% survival. This protective effect of cyclophosphamide is explained by its inhibiting effect on suppressor T-cells. The protection against B. rodhaini challenge infection afforded to immune Balb/c mice was completely resistant to a sublethal irradiation of 400 rad. Since B-lymphocyte function in antibody production is suppressed by this dose, the role of antibodies in the effector phase of the immunity appears to be of minor if any importance. A considerable degree of protection was still preserved after irradiation of immune animals with 875 rad. Sensitivity to this irradiation dose of all immunocompetent cells except macrophages and a small fraction of T-lymphocytes indicates the involvement of these cell types in the effector phase of the specific immunity. Highly radioresistant macrophages are therefore considered to play the major role but T-lymphocytes are also required for complete protection.     

Mice immune responses to Brucella abortus heat shock proteins. Use of baculovirus recombinant-expressing whole insect cells,purified Brucella abortus recombinant proteins,and a vaccinia virus recombinant as immunogens

Brucella abortus resists the microbicidal mechanisms of macrophages, and the expression of its heat shock proteins (HSPs) such as GroEL, GroES and HtrA may play a role in this resistance. Bacterial HSPs can be very immunogenic, inducing protective immunity in various types of bacterial infections. However, the significance of immune responses directed against B. abortus HSPs in the protection against brucellosis is currently unresolved. To elucidate the role of these proteins in protection against Brucella challenge, individual, divalent or trivalent baculovirus (BV) recombinants of B. abortus GroEL, GroES and/or HtrA were injected into BALB/c mice either as protein-expressing whole cells or as purified proteins. The preparations were given to mice in combination with Freund's or Ribi adjuvant, respectively. In addition, some mice were primed with a vaccinia virus-GroEL recombinant, followed by inoculation with purified GroEL-Ribi adjuvant combination. Antibodies were observed against B. abortus GroEL and HtrA, but not against GroES. Cellular immune response was demonstrated by observing significant IFN-gamma release by lymphocytes of mice immunized with the purified HtrA-Ribi adjuvant combination. However, none of the mice inoculated with individual, divalent or trivalent HSP-expressing cells combined with complete Freund's adjuvant or inoculated with purified B. abortus HSPs combined with Ribi adjuvant, were protected against challenge with B. abortus virulent strain 2308. Priming with vaccinia virus-GroEL recombinant and boosting with GroEL-Ribi combination did not induce protective immunity. Based on the results obtained, we suggest that although humoral and cell-mediated immune responses are induced, but protective immune response is not induced by B. abortus HSPs.     

Therapeutic effect of clindamycin and tetracycline on Babesia rodhaini infection in mouse model

In order to identify the alternative effective chemotherapeutic agents for murine babesiosis, some selected drugs were examined for their efficacy against protozoan infection in the mouse-Babesia rodhaini (B. rodhaini) model. Clindamycin was not completely effective for elimination of parasites in a dose of 50 mg or 100 mg/kg BW/day b.i.d. but effective to prolong the life span of hosts, while it completely cured B. rodhaini infections in a dose of 200 mg. On the other hand, a double therapy consisting of 2 treatments with 100 mg clindamycin and 100 mg clindamycin and with 100 mg clindamycin and 100 mg tetracycline; respectively, and a single therapy with 100 mg tetracycline or 200 mg clindamycin, had a possibility to clear away B. rodhaini organisms from hosts. However, almost all the treatment groups, had a relapse of the infection within 10 days post treatment or re-treatment. Cured mice by treatment with clindamycin and clindamycin, or clindamycin and tetracycline showed complete resistance against challenge with B. rodhaini, while mice cured by administration of clindamycin at 200 mg or tetracycline at 100 mg showed incomplete resistance to challenge infection. The present data suggest that the two former chemotherapies can induce effective protective immunity (premunization), but the latter two chemotherapies induce incomplete premunization.     

Immunological changes in Babesia rodhaini infected BALB/c mice after treated with anti-babesial drug; diminazene diaceturate.

A model system capable of investigating immunological changes was first established in Babesia rodhaini infected mice with an aid of a drug, diminazene diaceturate (DD). Intraperitoneal (ip) inoculation with B. rodhaini resulted in acute death in euthymic (nu/+) and athymic (nu/nu) BALB/c mice. Treatment with DD at an early stage of infection saved both mice from acute death. Parasitemia recurred in some of them but resulted in death only in nu/nu mice. A re-challenge with 10(5) parasitized erythrocytes (PE) on the surviving mice on day 28 post infection revealed resistance in nu/+ but not in nu/nu mice. The results suggested a participation of the thymus in the protective mechanisms. Immunological changes were then observed on nu/+ and nu/nu mice which were inoculated ip with 10(4)PE and treated with the drug, and then challenged with 10(5)PE ip on day 28. An antibody response was measured with immediate reaction by footpad injection of a soluble antigen of B. rodhaini and by ELISA of serum antibody using the antigen and protein A, on day 10 and later, and further a pronounced response was detected after re-challenge in nu/+ mice. No response was detected by ELISA in nu/nu mice. Delayed footpad reaction was seen in nu/+ mice by day 14 and later but it was suppressed after the re-challenge.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Studies on route of immunization with a mixture of killed parasites and adjuvants against Babesia rodhaini infection in mice

A series of experiments were undertaken to determine the most effective route of immunization with a mixture of killed Babesia rodhaini antigen (S antigen) and formalin-fixed Corynebacterium parvum (Propionibacterium acnes) bacterin (CPB) against challenge infection with B. rodhaini 3 weeks later. The mice pretreated with S antigen and CPB mixture intraperitoneally, but not intramuscularly, were significantly resistant to intraperitoneal (IP) or intravenous (IV) challenge with 10(6) organisms. The survival rates were 70.0 (IP challenge) and 60.0% (IV challenge) respectively. Fairly protective activities were equally produced in mice intravenously pretreated with S antigen and CPB with survival rates of 60.0% against IV challenge, but 30% against IP. These results indicated that the IP injection of S antigen and CPB mixture is desirable route for immunization against subsequent IP or IV challenge with B. rodhaini. On the other hand, lower protective effect was reconfirmed in the mice treated with S antigen and Freund's Complete adjuvant, regardless of immunization routes in the additional experiment. The survival rates were 33.3, 14.3 and 11.8% in the intraperitoneally, intramuscularly and subcutaneously-treated mice respectively against IP challenge with 10(6) organisms.     

Immune response and protective efficacy against homologous challenge in BALB/c mice vaccinated with DNA vaccine encoding Toxoplasma gondii actin depolymerizing factor gene

A DNA vaccine (pVAX1-TgADF) encoding Toxoplasma gondii actin depolymerizing factor (ADF) gene was constructed and the immune response and protective efficacy of this vaccine against homologous challenge in BALB/c mice were evaluated. High titers of specific antibody and increases in the percentage of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocyte cells were observed from BALB/c mice vaccinated with pVAX1-TgADF (P<0.05), when PBS group was used as control. The survival time of BALB/c mice in pVAX1-TgADF group was longer than those in control groups. The numbers of brain cysts in the experimental BALB/c mice immunized with pVAX1-TgADF reduced significantly compared with those in PBS group (P<0.05), and the rate of reduction could reach to around 42.8%. These results suggested that the DNA vaccine pVAX1-TgADF could generate specific humoral and cellular immune responses, prolong survival times, and reduce brain cysts load against T. gondii infection in BALB/c mice.     

重组杆状病毒表达的EIAV Env蛋白与含有env基因重组痘苗病毒的联合免疫

目的：构建新型的马传染性贫血病毒（EIAV）的候选疫苗。方法：利用BAC-To-BAC杆状病毒表达系统,将中国马传贫驴白细胞弱毒疫苗（EIAVDLV）及其亲本株（EIAVLN）env基因导入到杆状病毒基因组中。转染昆虫细胞后,得到的重组病毒用SDS-PAGE和Western blot检测表达产物。以本实验室构建的含有EIAVEnv基因的重组痘苗病毒,单独或与重组杆状病毒表达的EIAVEnv蛋白联合免疫小鼠。结果：构建的重组杆状病毒能正确表达全长Env蛋白。与单独免疫组相比,联合免疫组免疫应答显著增强,其中中和抗体的滴度提高5—9倍。结论：含有EIAVEnv基因的重组痘苗病毒与Env蛋白抗原联合务埔．能够诱导高滴座的中和抗体．     

A fatty acid binding protein from Fasciola hepatica induced protection in C57/BL mice from challenge infection with Schistosoma bovis.

Three strains of mice (NMRI, C57/BL, BALB/c) were each immunized with a 12 kDa purified, native Fasciola hepatica fatty acid binding protein (Fh12) and challenged percutaneously with Schistosoma bovis cercariae. C57/BL mice immunized with Fh12 had significant reductions in S. bovis worm burden recoveries (96 and 87% reductions over controls in two separate experiments). When using NMRI or BALB/c mice, Fh12 alone or in Freund's adjuvant failed to induce significant protection against S. bovis. In C57/BL mice vaccinated against Fh 12, antibodies to the IgG2a isotype, but not to the IgG1 isotype, increased by 2 weeks after the second immunization and remained high through 8 weeks of S. bovis infection. Antibodies to S. bovis increased after 4 weeks of infection. Regarding cytokine production by spleen mononuclear cells, C57/BL mice vaccinated with Fh12 in adjuvant, and having the highest protective response against challenge infection with S. bovis, had an increase of IFN-gamma production with Concanavalin A but no increase of IL-4 in similarly stimulated cells. These results suggest that the protection obtained in this group of mice is mediated by a Th1 immune response.     

Immune response of BALB/c mouse immunized with recombinant MSPs proteins of Anaplasma marginale binding to immunostimulant complex (ISCOM)

Anaplasmosis, caused by Anaplasma marginale, results in significant economic losses of cattle in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Six major surface proteins (MSPs) were well characterized and designated as MSP1, MSP2, MSP3, MSP4, and MSP5. The objective of this study was to evaluate the humoral immune response of BALB/c mice against the recombinant MSPs, incorporated into immunostimulating complex (ISCOM). The recombinant proteins purified by Ni-NTA columns were incorporated into ISCOM and ISCOMATRIX by the lipid film hydration method. BALB/c mice immunized with ISCOM/rMSPs and ISCOMATRIX/rMSPs vaccines produced whole IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a, in contrast to the negative groups (PBS and ISCOMATRIX adjuvant). All groups that received antigen responded specifically against the rMSPs by Western blotting, showing the rMSP1a (60-105kDa), rMSP1b (100kDa), rMSP4 (47kDa), and rMSP5 (29kDa). Additional studies will have to be performed in cattle to evaluate the humoral and cellular mechanisms of this subunit vaccine and their possible use as protective vaccines against homologous and heterologous strains of A. marginale.     

Toxoplasma gondii rhomboid protein 1 (TgROM1) is a potential vaccine candidate against toxoplasmosis

Infection with the intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii causes serious public health problems and is of great economic importance worldwide. The rhomboid proteins which are responsible for adhesion and invasion of host cells have been suggested as vaccine candidates against toxoplasmosis. A DNA vaccine (pVAX-ROM1) encoding T. gondii rhomboid protein 1 (TgROM1) gene was constructed and the immune response and protective efficacy of this vaccine against lethal challenge in BALB/c mice were evaluated. The results indicated that specific antibody and lymphocyte proliferative responses were elicited in mice receiving pVAX-ROM1. The production levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10, as well as the percentage of CD4(+) cells in mice vaccinated with pVAX-ROM1 were significantly increased respectively, compared to controls receiving either pVAX1 alone or PBS. After lethal challenge, the mice immunized with pVAX-ROM1 showed an increased survival time compared with the mice in the controls. Our data suggested that a DNA vaccine pVAX-ROM1 encoding T. gondii rhomboid protein 1 triggered strong humoral and cellular responses, and prolonged survival time against T. gondii infection in BALB/c mice.     

Evaluation of immune responses induced by SAG1 and MIC3 vaccine cocktails against Toxoplasma gondii

The aim of this study was to evaluate the immune responses of a SAG1 and MIC3 vaccine cocktail in BALB/c mice. Ninety-six BALB/c mice were randomly divided into eight groups, including three plasmid DNA vaccine groups (pcDNA-MIC3, pcDNA-SAG1, pcDNA-MIC3+pcDNA-SAG1), three recombinant pseudotype baculovirus vaccine groups (BV-G-MIC3, BV-G-SAG1, BV-G-SAG1+BV-G-MIC3) and two control groups (PBS and BV-G-EGFP). All groups were immunized intramuscularly twice at three-week intervals. The production of anti-Toxoplasma gondii lysate antigen (TLA) antibodies, lymphoproliferation, levels of IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10 and the survival time were monitored after vaccination. The results showed that immunization of BALB/c mice with MIC3 and SAG1 vaccines stimulated both the cellular and humoral immune responses with the production of anti-T. gondii TLA antibodies. The vaccine cocktails of pcDNA-MIC3+pcDNA-SAG1 or BV-G-SAG1+BV-G-MIC3 induced significantly higher immunogenicity than a single-gene vaccine (P<0.05). Splenocytes from the immunized mice significantly proliferated in response to the TLA and released interferon (IFN)-γ (P<0.05). However, the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 in the sera of the immunized mice were not significantly different from those of the controls (P>0.05). Immunization with the vaccine cocktail (BV-G-SAG1+BV-G-MIC3) in mice significantly prolonged survival (50%; P<0.05) against a lethal challenge of T. gondii (RH tachyzoites), while all mice in the other immunized groups and control groups died within 20 and 4 days post-infection, respectively. Furthermore, the recombinant pseudotype baculovirus vaccines induced better immunogenicity than the plasmid DNA vaccines (P<0.05). These results suggest that an excellent vector-mediated vaccine cocktail strategy might be used to develop a new generation of vaccines against T. gondii infection.     

马流感病毒血凝素基因甲病毒复制子重组表达质粒的构建及其免疫效力评价

为评价马流感病毒(EIV)HA基因核酸免疫效果,本研究以甲病毒复制子载体pSFV1CS分别构建了表达EIV H3N8亚型的美洲型和欧洲型HA基因的重组真核表达质粒。并将其转染293T细胞,经间接免疫荧光鉴定表明HA基因获得表达;以重组质粒免疫的BALB/c鼠能够检测到特异性抗体产生,而且HI抗体水平持续升高,同时小鼠体内IFN-γ、IL-4分泌水平也有所升高。攻毒后小鼠表现轻度临床症状,但病毒分离和RT-PCR均未检测到病毒。上述结果表明,该重组质粒pSFV1CS-EIV-HA具有良好的免疫原性并且可以诱导免疫动物产生较高免疫应答的能力。     

Vaccination with a novel multi-epitope ROP8 DNA vaccine against acute Toxoplasma gondii infection induces strong B and T cell responses in mice

Rhoptry proteins (ROPs) are involved in the cell invasion and parasitophorous vacuole (PV) formation and also vital for survival of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) within host cells. ROP8 have a main role during the early phase of infection and can express in tachyzoite and bradyzoite forms. In the present study, we designed a novel multi-epitope DNA vaccine encoding the potential B and T-cell epitopes from ROP8 protein to evaluate the immunity and protective efficacy against acute T. gondii infection in BALB/c mice. For this purpose, several bioinformatics online servers were used. At first, the potential epitopes were selected for T and B cells using immune epitope database (IEDB) and BCPREDS online services. Then, the selected epitopes were fused together by SAPGTP linker. Finally, the physico-chemical features, secondary and tertiary structures, antigenicity, and allergenicity of the peptide were evaluated through different bioinformatics tools. Lastly, the multi-epitope peptide was successfully cloned into pcDNA3.1 expression vector. The DNA vaccine was subcutaneously injected into BALB/c mice and the immune responses of the vaccinated mice and controls were determined. The obtained results revealed that the multi-epitope ROP8 peptide has 183 amino acid residues with average molecular weight (MW) of 18.974 kDa. More than 98 % residues of the peptide were incorporated in favored and allowed regions of the Ramachandran plot. The antigenicity of multi-epitope peptide were estimated 0.8751 and 0.7649 by ANTIGENpro and VaxiJen servers, respectively. BALB/c mice immunized with DNA vaccine showed significantly increased the level of specific anti-T. gondii antibodies (P < 0.05), and a mixed IgG1/IgG2a response with predominance of IgG2a production. The immunized mice also displayed a TH1-type cellular immune response with production of IFN-γ and prolonged survival time, compared with the control groups (P < 0.05). The findings revealed that the multi-epitope ROP8 DNA vaccine induced strong humoral and cellular responses and prolonged the survival time in BALB/c mice, suggesting selection of potential epitopes may be a promising strategy for the design of multi-epitope-based vaccines.     

Immunogenicity and protective efficacy of two recombinant pseudorabies viruses expressing Toxoplasma gondii SAG1 and MIC3 proteins

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most common parasitic pathogens in humans and warm-blooded animals, causing toxoplasmosis. One of the efficient ways to control this disease is immunization. In this study, two recombinant pseudorabies virus (PRV) expressing TgSAG1 (rPRV-SAG1) and TgMIC3 (rPRV-MIC3) based on the PRV vaccine strain were developed by homologous recombination and used for immunizing BALB/c mice. Ninety BALB/c mice were randomly divided into five groups including four experimental groups (inoculated twice in 4 weeks interval with PRV TK-/gG-/EGFP+, rPRV-SAG1, rPRV-MIC3, rPRV-SAG1+rPRV-MIC3, respectively) and one control group (inoculated with medium). All mice vaccinated with rPRV developed a high level of specific antibody responses against T. gondii lysate antigen (TLA), a strong increase of the splenocyte proliferative response, and significant levels of IFN-γ and IL-2 production. These results demonstrated that rPRV could induce significant humoral and cellular Th1 immune responses. Moreover, rPRV immunization induced partial protection against a lethal challenge with T. gondii RH strain, and neutralizing antibodies against PRV in a BALB/c mouse model. The mice immunized with the rPRV-SAG1 and rPRV-MIC3 cocktail could develop higher T. gondii-specific IgG antibodies and lymphocyte proliferative responses and conferred more efficient protection against T. gondii challenge. These results suggested that expression of protective antigens of T. gondii in PRV is a novel approach towards the development of a vaccine against both animal pseudorabies and toxoplasmosis.     

Protection of mice against Brucella abortus infection by inoculation with monoclonal antibodies recognizing Brucella O-antigen

Monoclonal antibodies recognizing the O-polysaccharide portion of Brucella abortus strain 2308 provided BALB/c mice with passive protection against challenge exposure with the homologous strain. Numbers of colony-forming organisms in the spleen were reduced by IgM and IgG monoclonal antibodies. Active immunization of mice, using B abortus 2308S lipopolysaccharide, resulted in production of IgM antibody at 14 days. Clearance of organisms in the actively immunized mice after challenge exposure at 14 days was nearly identical to that in passively immunized mice. Mice either passively or actively immunized were effectively protected from 0 to 28 days. Bacterial colonization of the spleen was observed to increase in both groups of mice at 56 days and indicated that humoral responses were effective in eliminating the organism in the early stages of infection, but other immune mechanisms were necessary for protection of mice in the later stage of infection with virulent strains of B abortus.     

日本血吸虫重组IAP蛋白的免疫保护效果评估

为研究日本血吸虫凋亡蛋白抑制因子（inhibitor of apoptosis protein of Schistosoma japonicum,SjIAP）重组蛋白诱导BALB/c小鼠的免疫保护效果,利用PCR技术扩增SjIAP基因,构建重组表达质粒pET-28a（＋）-SjIAP,诱导表达重组SjIAP蛋白,并利用重组蛋白制备兔源多克隆抗体血清。然后,选用SjIAP重组蛋白免疫BALB/c小鼠,利用ELISA检测免疫小鼠血清中的特异性抗体水平,以及免疫小鼠脾脏淋巴细胞在SjIAP重组蛋白刺激后产生的细胞因子水平。强化免疫后,将小鼠进行血吸虫尾蚴攻虫试验,感染38 d,进行剖杀,计算虫体减虫率及肝脏减卵率。Western blot结果表明本研究制备的兔源多抗血清能特异性识别SjIAP重组蛋白。ELISA检测表明免疫SjIAP重组蛋白可诱导较高水平的IgG及IgG亚型（IgG1、IgG2a、IgG2b、IgG3）抗体和IFN-γ、IL-2及IL-4细胞因子。动物试验表明,免疫SjIAP重组蛋白的小鼠与PBS组相比分别获得了31.5%的减虫率和37.2%的肝脏减卵率。免疫SjIAP重组蛋白能诱导小鼠获得一定减虫和减卵保护效果,提示血吸虫凋亡蛋白抑制因子可作为抗血吸虫病的疫苗候选分子。     

抗蓝舌病病毒VP6和VP7蛋白单克隆抗体的制备及鉴定

为制备针对蓝舌病病毒(BTV)的单克隆抗体(MAb),本研究利用血清型1型BTV(BTV1)免疫BALB/c鼠,将其脾淋巴细胞与SP2/0进行融合,并用BTV1包被ELISA板,通过间接ELISA方法筛选出3株稳定分泌抗BTV1的MAb的杂交瘤细胞株(2B10、3D4和4H8)。利用表达BTV1主要蛋白的真核表达重组质粒转染BHK-21后,对所制备的杂交瘤细胞株上清进行间接免疫荧光(IFA)以及western blot鉴定,结果显示:2B10和4H8与VP7蛋白反应,而3D4与VP6蛋白反应。同时,IFA鉴定结果进一步表明,3株MAb与24个血清型的BTV均可以发生反应。本研究制备的MAb为建立BTV免疫学检测方法和相关病毒蛋白的功能研究奠定了基础。     

Reduced cerebral infection of Neospora caninum in BALB/c mice vaccinated with recombinant Brucella abortus RB51 strains expressing N. caninum SRS2 and GRA7 proteins

Neospora caninum, an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, is the causative agent of bovine neosporosis, an important disease affecting the reproductive performance of cattle worldwide. Currently there is no effective vaccine available to prevent N. caninum infection in cattle. In this study, we examined the feasibility of developing a live, recombinant N. caninum vaccine using Brucella abortus vaccine strain RB51 as the expression and delivery vector. We generated two recombinant RB51 strains each expressing SRS2 (RB51/SRS2) or GRA7 (RB51/GRA7) antigens of N. caninum. BALB/c mice immunized by single intraperitoneal inoculation of the recombinant RB51 strains developed IgG antibodies specific to the respective N. caninum antigen. In vitro stimulation of splenocytes from the vaccinated mice with specific antigen resulted in the production of interferon-gamma, but not IL-5 or IL-10, suggesting the development of a Th1 type immune response. Upon challenge with N. caninum tachyzoites, mice vaccinated with strain RB51/SRS2, but not RB51/GRA7, showed significant resistance to cerebral infection when compared to the RB51 vaccinated mice, as determined by the tissue parasite load using a real-time quantitative TaqMan assay. Interestingly, mice vaccinated with either strain RB51 or RB51/GRA7 also contained significantly lower parasite burden in their brains compared to those inoculated with saline. Mice vaccinated with strain RB51/SRS2 or RB51/GRA7 were protected to the same extent as the strain RB51 vaccinated mice against challenge with B. abortus virulent strain 2308. These results suggest that a recombinant RB51 strain expressing an appropriate protective antigen(s), such as SRS2 of N. caninum, can confer protection against both neosporosis and brucellosis.     

Changes of splenic lymphocyte subpopulation in mice inoculated with Babesia microti and Babesia rodhaini.

Changes of splenic lymphocyte subpopulation after Babesia microti and Babesia rodhaini inoculation in mice were examined by flow cytometric analysis. The B. microti inoculated mice showed a longer period of time from inoculation to the onset of increase or decrease parasitaemia (%), packed cell volume, total spleen cell numbers and surface immunoglobulin positive splenic cell numbers than respective periods in B. rodhaini inoculated mice. The Thy-1 positive cell numbers in B. microti inoculated mice and B. rodhaini inoculated mice pre-immunized with homologous parasites were significantly higher than that of B. rodhaini inoculated mice. The ratio of L3T4 positive cell/Lyt-2 positive cell after inoculation with B. microti was quite similar to that in B. rodhaini mice pre-immunized. However, the ratio in B. rodhaini inoculated mice revealed a lack of an increasing phase. These results suggested that the T-cell dependent early immune response, especially suppressor activity, was closely related to the difference in the course of infection between the non-lethal B. microti and the lethal B. rodhaini infection in mice.