Assessment of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay based diagnostic kits (Toxokit-G and Toxokit-M) for the detection of IgG and IgM antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in human serum

An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using penicillinase was developed in the form of diagnostic kits (Toxokit-G and Toxokit-M) for the detection of IgG and IgM antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii. The performance of both the kits was compared with commercially available diagnostic kits, i.e. Enzygnost-Toxoplasmosis/IgG (Behring Co., Germany), TOXOTEK-G (Flow Lab., U.K.) and Toxoplasma IgM Microassay (Diamedix Corp., U.S.A.) by testing toxoplasma-suspected human serum samples. The results indicate a good reliability between these diagnostic kits. Toxokit-G has 86.66 and 96.05% sensitivity and specificity respectively. The main advantage of Toxokit-G is that the end result can be assessed visually without using sophisticated instruments. Toxokit-M has 100% sensitivity and specificity and test results were not affected by the presence of antitoxoplasma IgG antibodies, rheumatoid factor or antinuclear antibodies.     

弓形虫ROP2基因在大肠杆菌内高效表达条件的优化

采用SDS-PAGE方法检测弓形虫(Toxoplasma gondii)棒状体蛋白(Rhoptry protein)ROP2基因原核表达质粒在大肠杆菌BL21Codon Plus中的表达量。通过改变菌体密度、诱导剂浓度和诱导时间进行高效表达条件的优化。结果显示,在菌体密度D600nm为0·6、IPTG浓度为0·4mmol·L-1和诱导表达3.5h时,融合蛋白的表达量最大,达到159mg·L-1培养液。这为利用重组ROP2研究和制备弓形虫病的诊断抗原奠定基础。     

几种不同免疫程序制备抗弓形虫高免血清的比较

用弓形虫血清抗体阴性的健康家兔,以4种不同的免疫程序皮下接种弓形虫速殖子裂解抗原制备高免血清.研究结果表明,先以完全弗氏佐剂和不完全弗氏佐剂分别进行一免和二免,然后再以抗原进行三免或四免制备高免血清,其抗体效价高达1:4096(IHA),与每次都使用抗原的传统免疫程序制备的抗体效价相当,但所用抗原剂量减半,该法优于另外2种免疫程序.     

刚地弓形虫亲环蛋白基因TgCyP真核表达质粒的构建及其在Hela细胞内的表达

亲环蛋白（cyclophilin,CyP）是一类广泛存在于原核和真核生物体内的胞溶性蛋白,是刚地弓形虫（Toxoplasmngondii）速殖子的主要成分,能够诱导产生IL-12和IFN-γ,在控制弓形虫急性感染过程中起重要作用。本研究根据GenBank发表的TgCyP基因序列,设计并合成一对包含BamHI和EcoRI酶切位点的引物,以cDNA为模板,应用PCR技术扩增TgCyP基因。PCR产物连接到pMD18-T克隆载体。用限制性内切酶BamHI和EcoRI双酶切克隆载体,将TgCyP目的基因克隆到载体pVAXI,构建真核表达质粒pVAXl-TgCyP。将真核表达质粒转染Hela细胞,利用问接免疫荧光检测其在Hela细胞内的表达情况。结果表明扩增的TgCyP基因与GenBank上相应基因序列（U04633．1）的一致性达100％,构建的真核表达质粒pVAX1-TgCyP能在转染的Hela细胞中表达,其表达产物与刚地弓形虫阳性血清具有免疫反应性。本研究表明Tg-CyP有望作为弓形虫疫苗的候选抗原,将为进一步研究该质粒的动物免疫试验奠定基础。     

Toxoplasma gondii in Switzerland: a serosurvey based on meat juice analysis of slaughtered pigs, wild boar, sheep and cattle

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most important zoonotic diseases worldwide and is caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. Besides vertical infection during pregnancy, humans can get infected post-natally either by peroral uptake of sporulated Toxoplasma oocysts or by ingestion of tissue cysts upon consumption of raw or undercooked meat. The aim of this study was to approximate the risk of human infection via meat consumption by estimating the seroprevalence of T. gondii in slaughtered animals in Switzerland and to compare data with prevalences assessed 10 years ago. The study included pigs, cattle, sheep and wild boar of different age groups and housing conditions whenever possible and applicable. A P-30-ELISA was used to detect T. gondii-specific antibodies and to determine seroprevalences in meat juice of slaughtered animals. A total of 270 domestic pigs (120 adults, 50 finishing, 100 free-ranging animals), 150 wild boars, 250 sheep (150 adults, 100 lambs) and 406 cattle (47 calves, 129 heifers, 100 bulls, 130 adult cows) were tested. Seropositivity increased with the age of the assessed animals. Independent of the age-group, the overall seroprevalence was lowest in wild boars (6.7%), followed by pigs (23.3%), cattle (45.6%) and sheep (61.6%), respectively. Conventional fattening pigs and free-ranging pigs surprisingly had comparable seroprevalences (14.0% and 13.0%, respectively). Unlike in other European countries, where generally a decrease in the number of seropositive animals had been observed, we found that the prevalence of seropositive animals, when compared with that of 10 years ago, had increased for most species/age groups. Conclusively, the results demonstrated a high seroprevalence of T. gondii in animals slaughtered for meat production and revealed that increasing age of the animals is a more important risk factor than housing conditions in Switzerland.     

Serological Survey of Toxoplasma gondii Infection in the Domestic Goose (Anser domestica) in Southern China

In the present study, the antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in 191 farm‐bred and 83 house‐bred geese (Anser domestica) were assessed for the prevalence of T. gondii infection in southern China with the modified agglutination test. Antibodies to T. gondii (MAT ≥ 1 : 5) were found in 27 (14.14%) of farm‐bred geese and 14 (16.87%) of house‐bred geese. Geese infected with T. gondii may be a source of T. gondii infection for humans and cats.     

弓形虫分子免疫学研究进展

弓形虫病是由刚第弓形虫引起的一种危害严重的全球性人兽共患寄生虫病,全世界各国学者对此原虫的研究十分重视,尤其是近年来对其免疫学的研究成果对深入了解该原虫的致病机理和进行有效的免疫预防非常重要。从宿主感染弓形虫后的免疫效应、免疫诊断及其疫苗等方面阐述了弓形虫分子免疫学研究进展。     

顶复门寄生虫顶质体的研究进展

从顶质体的发现、起源、形态学、基因组以及生物学功能等方面介绍了顶复门寄生虫顶质体的一些研究进展，说明了顶质体对于顶复门寄生虫的存活具有十分重要的作用，它参与了脂肪酸、血红素以及类异戊二烯的生物学合成。提示，顶质体所具有的新陈代谢功能也使其成为研制抗寄生虫药的潜在靶位点。     

Immunizing efficacy of Toxoplasma gondii strains isolated from different hostsEfficacite d'immunisation par differentes souches de Toxoplasma gondii isolees de differents hotes

Studies were carried out to determine the fate of virulent Toxoplasma gondii challenge in immune animals. Toxoplasma strains isolated from human, swine, rabbit and cat hosts were used for the primary immunization of mice. Brains were removed at various intervals after the challenge and subinoculated into normal mice. Prior immunization with one of the nine toxoplasma strains enabled the mice either to eliminate or harbour the challenge organisms without loss of virulence. The outcome of challenge infection was dependent on the parasite strain used for the immunization and the time interval between challenge and subinoculation. Mice immunized with strain KSU isolated from a cat eliminated repeatedly administered challenge from 80% of animals. Strain S 162 isolated from a swine eliminated similar challenge from only 20% of animals. The results indicate that the extent of protection against virulent T. gondii can vary widely and is related to the immunogenicity of the original immunizing strain.