Immunogenicity and growth inhibitory efficacy of the prime-boost immunization regime with DNA followed by recombinant vaccinia virus carrying the P29 gene of Babesia gibsoni in dogs

Exp Parasitol. 2009 Dec;123(4):296-301. doi: 10.1016/j.exppara.2009.08.012. Epub 2009 Aug 25.

Abstract

In recent studies, heterologous prime-boost approaches, employing plasmid DNA and viral vector pathogen-delivering sequences, have been considered an effective protection strategy for intracellular parasite infections. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of such a strategy against the canine Babesia gibsoni infection. The DNA (pCAGGS-P29) and recombinant vaccinia virus (vvP29) both encoding the P29 of B. gibsoni were used in this study. The dogs were immunized 3 times with priming DNA and boosted once with recombinant virus. The dogs immunized with P29 developed a significant level of IgG2 antibody against P29. The response was strongly boosted by the inoculation of vvP29. The peripheral IFN-gamma responses of the dogs immunized with P29 were significantly higher than those of controls after the parasite inoculation. Moreover, the P29 immunized group showed a significantly low level of parasitemia. In conclusion, this study supports the efficacy of a prime-boost strategy for dogs against canine B. gibsoni infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / biosynthesis
  • Babesia / genetics
  • Babesia / immunology*
  • Babesiosis / immunology
  • Babesiosis / parasitology
  • Babesiosis / prevention & control*
  • Blotting, Western
  • Dogs
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Gene Expression
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Immunization, Secondary
  • Immunoglobulin G / biosynthesis
  • Interferon-gamma / blood
  • Plasmids
  • Protozoan Vaccines* / administration & dosage
  • Protozoan Vaccines* / immunology
  • Random Allocation
  • Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
  • Transfection
  • Vaccination / methods
  • Vaccines, DNA / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, DNA / immunology
  • Vaccinia virus / genetics

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Protozoan Vaccines
  • Vaccines, DNA
  • Interferon-gamma