Development and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to first-generation merozoites of Eimeria bovis.

Merozoites of Eimeria bovis were harvested from bovine monocyte cell cultures and used to immunize BALB/C mice. Spleens from immunized mice were removed and the cells fused with mouse myeloma cells. Supernates from resulting hybridoma cell lines were examined for antibodies to first-generation E. bovis merozoites using an indirect immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) assay. Three positive cell lines were identified and cloned by limiting dilution. All three cell lines produced immunoglobulins of the IgG1 isotype that recognized antigens in the anterior half to two-thirds of the merozoites. Specificity of the monoclonal antibodies was examined with the IFA assay against sporozoites of E. bovis, sporozoites and merozoites of Eimeria papillata from mice and Eimeria tenella from chickens, sporozoites of Isospora suis from pigs, and tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum from cell cultures. Monoclonal antibodies from the three clones reacted with the anterior end of E. bovis sporozoites, but did not react with the other parasites examined. None of the monoclonal antibodies reacted with merozoite antigens in immunoblots.     

Avian eimeria: invasion in foreign host birds and generation of partial immunity against coccidiosis

Four species of avian Eimeria invaded the intestine of foreign host birds in the same areas in which they invaded the natural host. Repeated inoculation (immunization) of chickens with the turkey coccidian, Eimeria adenoeides, partially protected the chickens against a subsequent challenge with 5.8 x 10(4) E. tenella oocysts. At 6 days post-challenge, the weight gain and feed conversion efficiency of the immunized chickens was significantly better than those of the chickens that were not immunized with E. adenoeides. Lesion scores and cellular invasion by the sporozoites were significantly lower in the immunized birds than in the unimmunized group. Electrophoresis and Western blot analysis identified changes in the serum antibody profiles of the chickens that appeared to be associated with the immunization and challenge programs. An antibody or antibodies recognizing a 60,000-molecular-weight antigen of E. tenella sporozoites disappeared when chickens immunized with E. adenoeides were challenged with E. tenella; an antibody or antibodies recognizing a 23,000-molecular-weight sporozoite antigen appeared within 6 days of challenge. Reciprocal studies, in which turkeys were immunized with E. tenella and challenged with E. adenoeides, showed little evidence of protection.     

堆型艾美耳球虫子孢子和鸡十二指肠上皮细胞的共同抗原的研究

以抗堆型艾美耳球虫子孢子的单抗EASP-3G3作为工具,对鸡各段消化道上皮细胞切片和子孢子进行免疫组化染色,并利用蛋白质印迹技术来检测单抗所识别子孢子可溶性抗原的分子量,来确定子孢子和十二指肠上皮细胞之间是否存在共同抗原。结果表明单抗只与十二指肠上皮细胞发生反应,而与其他肠段无染色反应。而且单抗所识别的可溶性抗原分子量为35~48 ku。抗子孢子的单抗同时与十二指肠上皮细胞和子孢子反应,而不与其他肠段反应,证明堆型艾美耳球虫寄生的位点特异性与十二指肠上皮细胞表面的某种抗原分子有内在的关系。     

Reduction of the infectivity of Toxoplasma gondii and Eimeria stiedai sporozoites by treatment with bovine lactoferricin

Sporozoites of Toxoplasma gondii preincubated with lactoferricin showed decreased activity in penetration of mouse embryonal cells. Mice inoculated with 10(5) sporozoites preincubated with lactoferricin showed a higher survival rate than those inoculated with the same number of untreated sporozoites. Likewise, sporozoites of Eimeria stiedai preincubated with lactoferricin also showed decreased activity in penetration of rabbit hepatobiliary cells. Rabbits inoculated with 10(5) sporozoites preincubated with lactoferricin shed fewer oocysts than those inoculated with the same number of untreated sporozoites. These results indicate that lactoferricin is effective to reduce the infectivity of sporozoites of Toxoplasma gondii and Eimeria stiedai.     

Identification of carbohydrates on Eimeria stiedai sporozoites and their role in the invasion of cultured cells in vitro

The carbohydrates present on Eimeria stiedai sporozoites and their functional role in the process of invasion of host cells were examined. Lectin-binding sites on the surface of sporozoites were detected by means of peroxidase-conjugated lectins. Sporozoites showed specific binding with UEA-I and PNA lectins, which bind L-fucose and D-galactose, respectively. Exposure of sporozoites to 100 microg/ml UEA-I significantly reduced their ability to invade primary rabbit liver biliary epithelial cells, but similar treatment with PNA had no such effect. Pre-incubation of these cells in Dulbecco's minimum essential medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum and 1% L-fucose suppressed the invasion activity of the sporozoites, but pre-incubation of the sporozoites in the same medium without L-fucose had no effect on cell penetration. D-galactose added to the medium had no effect on the invasion activity of sporozoites. These results indicate that L-fucose residues on E. stiedai sporozoites and L-fucose-binding sites on host cells both are associated with the recognition and/or invasion process.     

一种柔嫩艾美耳球虫棒状体蛋白单抗的制备及初步应用

利用原核表达的柔嫩艾美耳球虫棒状体蛋白（EtRP）的重组蛋白免疫BALB／c小鼠，经4次免疫后取脾脏制备免疫脾细胞，与小鼠骨髓瘤细胞SP2／0融合，经间接ELISA和Western blot筛选获得一株抗EtRP蛋白的特异性单克隆抗体细胞株，命名为2E3，亚类鉴定为IgG2a。细胞上清和小鼠腹水的效价分别为1：40和1：2．56×10^4。利用该单抗对EtRP在柔嫩艾关耳球虫子孢子中的分布进行分子定位，结果显示该蛋白主要分布于子孢子的顶端；而当子孢子在DMEM培养基中41℃孵育1h后，该蛋白则分布于整个虫体。研究结果表明，成功制备了EtRP单克隆抗体，为进一步研究球虫相关蛋白功能奠定了基础。     

A recombinant Eimeria protein inducing interferon-gamma production: comparison of different gene expression systems and immunization strategies for vaccination against coccidiosis

A rabbit antiserum against an 18- to 27-kD native protein fraction (F3) from Eimeria acervulina merozoites identified a cDNA (3-1E) containing a 1086-base pair insertion with an open reading frame of 170 amino acids (predicted molecular weight, 18,523). The recombinant 3-1E cDNA expressed in Escherichia coli produced a 60-kD fusion protein and a 23-kD protein after factor Xa treatment of the fusion protein. Both proteins were reactive with the F3 antiserum by western blot analysis. A rabbit antiserum against a synthetic peptide deduced from the amino acid sequence of the 3-1E cDNA reacted with a 27-kD recombinant 3-1E protein expressed in Sf9 insect cells and a 20-kD native protein expressed by E. acervulina sporozoites and Eimeria tenella sporozoites and merozoites. By immunofluorescence staining, a monoclonal antibody produced against the recombinant 3-1E protein reacted with sporozoites and merozoites of E. acervulina, E. tenella, and Eimeria maxima. Spleen lymphocytes from E. acervulina-immune chickens showed antigen-specific proliferation and interferon (IFN)-gamma production upon stimulation with the recombinant 3-1E protein, indicating that the protein activates cell-mediated immunity during coccidiosis. Immunization of chickens with either the E. coli- or Sf9-expressed recombinant 3-1E protein with adjuvant, or direct injection of the 3-1E cDNA, induced protective immunity against live E. acervulina. Simultaneous injection of the recombinant 3-1E protein, or the 3-1E cDNA, with cDNAs encoding chicken IFN-gamma or interleukin (IL)-2/15 further enhanced protective immunity. These results indicate that the recombinant E. acervulina 3-1E cDNA or its polypeptide product may prove useful as vaccines against avian coccidiosis.     

柔嫩艾美耳球虫EtMIC2的酵母表面展示

利用酿酒酵母表面展示系统展示柔娥艾美耳球虫微线蛋白基因EtMIC2,为下一步研制活裁体疫苗奠定基础。参照GenBank中柔嫩艾美耳球虫EtMIC2基因序列设计引物,以柔嫩艾美耳球虫的RNA为模板,利用RT—PCR扩增得到预期长度的产物,双酶切连接到酿酒酵母表面展示的载体pCTCON2,转化大肠杆菌TOPl0,提取阳性质粒转化酿酒酵母菌株EBYl00,诱导表达后,用抗EtMIC2蛋白质特异性抗体,做间接免疫荧光（IFA）检测EtMIC2蛋白的表达。结果显示,EtMIC2成功展示到酵母细胞表面,测得最佳诱导时间为48h。     

Specificity and cross-reactivity of hybridoma antibodies generated against Eimeria bovis sporozoites

Spleens from mice immunized with Eimeria bovis sporozoites were removed and the cells fused with mouse myeloma cells to produce hybridoma cell lines (HCLs). The resulting HCLs were examined for antibody (HAB) production against E. bovis sporozoites using an indirect immunofluorescent antibody test on air-dried sporozoites. Four fusions resulted in the production of 19 HCLs that produced HABs to E. bovis sporozoites. These 19 HCLs were further tested for reactivity with cell culture-grown merozoites of E. bovis and Sarcocystis cruzi of cattle; sporozoites of Eimeria tenella from chickens, Eimeria meleagrimitis from turkeys, Eimeria papillata and Eimeria vermiformis from mice; and bradyzoites of S. cruzi from calves. Six HCLs produced HABs that reacted only with E. bovis sporozoites and were species specific/stage specific. Two HCLs produced HABs that reacted only with E. bovis sporozoites and merozoites, and were species specific/stage cross-reactive. Seven HCLs produced HABs that reacted with the sporozoites of the other Eimeria species examined and were species cross-reactive/stage specific. Four of the HCLs produced HABs that reacted with all organisms tested and were species cross-reactive/stage cross-reactive. The results of this study suggest the conservation of some antigens throughout developmental stages and genera of Eimeriorina.     

柔嫩艾美耳球虫的抗原分析

本文采用十二烷基硫酸钠－聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳，免疫印渍技术，用抗柔嫩艾美耳球虫抗体分析了第二代型殖子、子孢子和未孢子化卵囊的蛋白质。ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ电泳银染表明第二代裂殖子主要蛋白质为：１７．６ＫＤ，２９．９ＫＤ，３８．９ＫＤ和５３．７ＫＤ，但用抗Ｅ．ｔｅｎｅｌｌａ抗体免疫印渍法检测出的主要抗原为：７８．０ＫＤ，８３．２ＫＤ和９５．５ＫＤ，这说明并不是含量高的蛋白质就是产生抗体的抗原；子孢子蛋白质含     

Potential of a recombinant antigen as a prophylactic vaccine for day-old broiler chickens against Eimeria acervulina and Eimeria tenella infections.

A genetically engineered Eimeria tenella antigen (GX3262), produced as a fusion protein with beta-galactosidase and identified with a monoclonal antibody, induced partial but significant protection in young broiler chickens against experimental E. tenella and Eimeria acervulina infections. The antigen appears to share a T-helper cell epitope with the parasite as evidenced by (a) booster inoculation with either the recombinant antigen or with a small number of live oocysts enhanced the protective immunity in GX3262 primed chickens, and (b) ability of the antigen to induce in vitro stimulation of T-cells from chickens immunized with antigen or parasite. These observations suggest the feasibility of a single vaccination of 1 or 2-day-old broilers with GX3262 to induce an acceptable degree of protective immunity. The implications of the observations reported here are far reaching in terms of a practical coccidiosis vaccine for poultry, and show for the first time that 1-day-old broiler chickens can be efficiently vaccinated with a recombinant antigen against one or more species of Eimeria.     

Distribution of oocysts, sporocysts and sporozoites of Eimeria tenella and Eimeria maxima in the digestive tract of chicken.

The distribution of oocysts, sporocysts and sporozoites of Eimeria tenella and Eimeria maxima in the digestive tract of chicken and in excreta was investigated. At 1 h after the oral inoculation of E. tenella oocysts, the number of sporocysts in the cecum was 3.4 x 10(6) and decreased gradually thereafter, and the number of sporozoites in the cecum increased and remained at a high level until 12 h after the inoculation. Small numbers of sporocysts and sporozoites of E. tenella were found in other intestinal sites. A great number of E. maxima sporozoites was found, especially in the jejunum, 2 h after the inoculation. The findings that the largest populations of sporozoites of E. tenella and E. maxima were found in the cecum and the jejunum, respectively, indicate that the site specificity of sporozoite invasion for each species is determined before the invasion takes place.     

Use of monoclonal antibodies directed against Eimeria tenella sporozoites to determine stage specificity and in vitro effect on parasite penetration and development

Three different hybridoma-produced monoclonal antibodies (Ab) were used to study their reactivities with in vitro developmental stages of Eimeria tenella and their effects on sporozoite penetration and intracellular development. One Ab (designated B10) was stage-specific, whereas the other 2 Ab (designated C3 and E5) reacted with various intracellular developmental stages of the coccidia. The E5 Ab interacted with the cytoplasm of cultured cells that were infected with sporozoites at 24 hours after inoculation. All 3 Ab inhibited penetration to various degrees--the one designated B10 having the greatest inhibitory effect. These 3 Ab also inhibited development of the parasite in cell culture, provided that Ab was continuously present in the cell culture medium. Removal of Ab from the medium allowed coccidial development to continue at about the same rate as in controls. A longer pretreatment time of the sporozoites with the Ab before cell inoculation increased the inhibitory effect with respect to both the penetration and the development of the parasite.     

Phage display selection and characterization of single-chain recombinant antibodies against Eimeria tenella sporozoites

A single-chain antibody library against Eimeria tenella sporozoites was constructed by phage display. Antibody-displaying phage was selected in five panning rounds against cryopreserved E. tenella sporozoites. A 1000-fold increase in phage output and a 3000-fold enrichment were obtained after three rounds of panning, as the binding clones became the dominant population in the library. Ten clones were randomly selected from the last selection round, and their nucleotide sequences were aligned and compared to chicken germ-line sequences. Analysis of the light chain variable regions revealed possible donor pseudogenes which act as donors in gene conversion events, and contribute to the diversification of the V(L) immune repertoire. Possible somatic hypermutation events, a consequence of affinity maturation, were also identified. Soluble antibody was produced in a non-suppressor E. coli strain, purified by nickel affinity chromatography, and characterized by immunoblotting. In an immunofluorescence assay, this recombinant antibody showed specific binding to E. tenella sporozoites.     

Antibody response against endogenous stages of an attenuated strain of Eimeria tenella

The application of attenuated vaccines for the prevention of chicken coccidiosis has increased exponentially in recent years. In Eimeria infections, protective immunity is thought to rely on a strong cell mediated response with antibodies supposedly playing a minor role. However, under certain conditions antibodies seem to be significant in protection. Furthermore, antibodies could be useful for monitoring natural exposure of flocks to Eimeria spp. and for monitoring the infectivity of live vaccines. Our objective was to investigate the chicken antibody response to the different parasite life cycle stages following infection with an attenuated strain of Eimeria tenella. Western blotting analysis of parasite antigens prepared from the lining of caeca infected with the attenuated strain of E. tenella revealed two dominant antigens of 32 and 34 kDa, apparently associated with trophozoites and merozoites that were present at high concentrations between 84 and 132 h post-infection. When cryosections of caeca infected with E. tenella were probed with IgY purified from immune birds the most intense reaction was observed with the asexual stages. Western blotting analysis of proteins of purified sporozoites and third generation merozoites and absorption of stage-specific antibodies from sera suggested that a large proportion of antigens is shared by the two stages. The time-courses of the antibody response to sporozoite and merozoite antigens were similar but varied depending on the inoculation regime and the degree of oocyst recirculation.     

Analysis of cross-reactivity of five new chicken monoclonal antibodies which recognize the apical complex of Eimeria using confocal laser immunofluorescence assay

For Apicomplexa (members) the host cell invasion is realized with the help of the organelles located at the apical tip of parasites. In this research paper the characterization of five chicken monoclonal antibodies (mabs) produced against Eimeria acervulina sporozoites is described. All mabs reacted with molecules belonging to the apical complex of chicken Eimeria sporozoites. On immunofluorescence assay (IFA) one mab, 8E-1, recognized an apical tip molecule present on all chicken Eimeria sporozoites, two mabs (8D-2 and HE-4) recognized an antigen present on the apical tip of the same two Eimeria species (E. acervulina and E. brunetti), another mab (5D-11) recognized an antigen present on the apical tip of other two species (E. acervulina and E. maxima) while one mab (8C-3) identified antigens present on the sporozoites and sporocysts wall of only E. acervulina. Besides the apical tip antigens, two mabs (HE-4 and 8D-2) recognized some proteins located in the anterior half of the sporozoites. Collectively, these mabs proved that the apical complex of chicken Eimeria sporozoites share one or more antigens that are expected to play a role in host cell recognition and invasion.     

柔嫩艾美耳球虫表面抗原（EtSAG）基因的分离及鉴定

利用本实验室前期获得的柔嫩艾美耳球虫（Eimeria tenella）孢子化卵囊和未孢子化卵囊差异表达ESTs序列,选取编号为BW4-C03的孢子化卵囊,采用RACE技术,获得该基因全长序列。经BLAST分析,该序列与柔嫩艾美耳球虫表面抗原有72%以上的同源性,命名为EtSAG。利用荧光定量PCR（Real-time PCR）检测发现该基因在孢子化卵囊的转录拷贝数最高,且随着孢子化时间的延长,转录拷贝数逐渐增加。采用原核表达载体pET-28C表达该基因,得到的融合蛋白大小约为36 kDa,符合预期大小。经Western blot分析,该重组蛋白可被兔抗柔嫩艾美耳球虫的多克隆抗血清识别,表明该蛋白具有较好的反应原性。本研究结果为进一步研究该基因的生物学功能奠定了基础。     

Limited heterogeneity between strains of Eimeria tenella isolated from Britain and Bangladesh

Single-oocyst-derived field strains of Eimeria tenella isolated from Rugby in the United Kingdom (E tenella R) and from Mymensingh and Dhaka in Bangladesh (E tenella M and D, respectively) and a laboratory strain (E tenella, Houghton, H) were compared by isoenzyme electrophoresis, reactivity with antisporozoite monoclonal antibodies and, for some pairs of strains, cross-protection in vivo. The three field strains conformed to one zymodeme with respect to six isoenzymes. For glucose phosphate isomerase (GPI) all field strains were characterised by GPI-9. A panel of six different monoclonal antibodies raised against sporozoites of E tenella H did not discriminate between strains by titration in an immunofluorescence assay against air-dried, acetone fixed sporozoites. In cross-protection experiments involving immunisation and challenge of young chickens, two immunisation schedules were used which, after homologous challenge, provided complete immunity either by the criterion of oocyst output, or by the criterion of weight gain (and more than 94 per cent protection by the criterion of oocyst output). While strain heterogeneity was minimal in the former situation, there was poor cross protection between some strains in the latter case. Under those conditions, heterologous challenge with E tenella M resulted in dysentery and in significantly (P less than 0.05) increased oocyst output and decreased weight gain. The results suggested that E tenella M was immunologically superior to E tenella R and H strains. The results show that a limited degree of immunogenic variability exists between these strains of E tenella and that, unless homologous strain immunity is complete by the criterion of oocyst output, challenge with heterologous strains may result in depressed weight gain.     

Characterization of the antibody response in birds following infection with wild-type and attenuated strains of Eimeria tenella and Eimeria necatrix

Live vaccines containing attenuated parasite strains are increasingly used to control chicken coccidiosis. In this paper antibody responses elicited by infections with wild-type and attenuated strains of Eimeria tenella and Eimeria necatrix were characterized by immunoblotting and ELISA with homologous and heterologous antisera. Few differences between antisera from birds infected with wild and attenuated strains of E. tenella were evident in immunoblots conducted with merozoite antigen preparations from both E. tenella strains, however the reactivity of sera raised in birds infected with the wild-type strain was noticeably more intense. In ELISAs conducted with merozoite antigen preparations, antisera from birds infected with the wild-type strains of E. tenella and E. necatrix consistently produced a significantly higher (P<0.05) antibody response than antisera from birds infected with the attenuated strains. Likewise, avidity ELISAs conducted with the E. tenella strains demonstrated that antibodies in birds infected with the wild-type strain were of significantly higher avidity (P<0.05) than antibodies in birds infected with the attenuated strain. The differences in the antibody responses are probably due to changes in the attenuated strain as a result of selection for precocious development and the less severe tissue damage and inflammation of the intestine resulting from infection with the attenuated strain.