SUSCEPTIBILITY OF MICE TO TOXOPLASMA GONDII AFTER NUCLEIC ACID IMMUNIZATION

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Animal Health Research Institute, Parasitology Department, Egypt.

2 Institute for Medical Research, Molecular Biology department, Malaysia.

Abstract

In the present study, mice were vaccinated with Toxoplasma gondii DNA vaccine and anti- toxoplasma antibodies were produced against the major surface antigen P30. Five mice (Balb/c) were vaccinated I/M with naked toxoplasma DNA vaccine (pGFP-N3 with p30 insert), five mice with pGFP-N3 without insert, four mice with pGFP-N3 with p30 insert complexed with cationic liposomes (DOTAP), four mice with pGFP-N3 without p30 insert complexed with cationic lipo- somes (DOTAP). Two Control groups were vac- cinated with crude toxoplasma antigen and PBS. One group was kept as non injected control. Anti-loxoplasnia antibodies were monitored serologi- cally in the vaccianted mice by IFAT and ELISA. There was no difference in IFA'T’ antibody response between the mice immunized with DNA vaccien and those immunized with DNA carried on cationic liposomes. All control mice chal- lenged with 5 X104 live T. gondii tachyzoites died while those immunized with T. gondii DNA appeared to survive longer.

Main Subjects