Gene Gun Bombardment with DNA-Coated Golden Particles Enhanced the Protective Effect of a DNA Vaccine Based on Thioredoxin Glutathione Reductase ofSchistosoma japonicum

Abstract

Schistosomiasis, caused by infection with Schistosoma species, remains an important parasitic zoonosis. Thioredoxin glutathione reductase of Schistosoma japonicum (SjTGR) plays an important role in the development of the parasite and for its survival. Here we present a recombinant plasmid DNA vaccine, pVAX1/SjTGR, to estimate its protection against S. japonicum in BALB/c mice. The DNA vaccine administrated by particle bombardment induced higher protection than by intramuscular injection. All animals vaccinated with pVAX1/SjTGR developed significant specific anti-SjTGR antibodies than control groups. Moreover, animals immunized by gene gun exhibited a splenocyte proliferative response, with an increase in IFN-γ and IL-4. The recombinant plasmid administrated by gene gun achieved a medium protective efficacy of 27.83–38.83% (P < 0.01) of worm reduction and 40.38–44.51% (P < 0.01) of liver egg count reduction. It suggests that different modes of administering a DNA vaccine can influence the protective efficacy induced by the vaccine. Interestingly, from the enzymatic activity results, we found that worms obtained from pVAX1/SjTGR-vaccinated animals expressed lower enzymatic activity than the control group and the antibodies weakened the enzymatic activity of SjTGR in vitro, too. It implies that the high-level antibodies may contribute to the protective effects.

Auranofin-induced oxidative stress causes redistribution of the glutathione pool in Taenia crassiceps cysticerci

“…These are highly prevalent worldwide and present serious medical problems in humans and animals [73] by their ability to persist asymptomatically in a vertebrate host for decades [74,75], causing a spectrum of debilitating pathologies and even death [76]. Due to resistance or tolerance developed by parasitic flatworms at first choice drugs, numerous investigations have been conducted to develop new-drugs against TGR [77][78][79][80][81][82].…”

Novel gene delivery systems

“…[21] Gene gun delivery of DNA-coated gold particles enhanced the efficiency of DNA vaccine for Schistosomiasis. [22] It is also found that DNA vaccine delivery by electroporation and gene gun enhanced the efficiency. [23]…”

Potential of microneedle-assisted micro-particle delivery by gene guns: a review

“…A gene gun is considered to be a unique concept which was first used to deliver genetic materials into plant cells (Klein et al, , 1992Sanford et al, 1993;Svarovsky, 2008;Huang & Chen, 2011;O'Brien & Lummis, 2011;Manjila et al, 2013). The technique has been used to transfer DNAcoated micro-particles to achieve gene transfection into many types of cells and organs (Bennett et al, 1999;Meacham et al, 2013), for example, mammals (Williams et al, 1991;Kuriyama et al, 2000;Sakai et al, 2000;Da'dara et al, 2002;Ettinger et al, 2012;Cao et al, 2013), plants (Klein et al, 1992;Zuraida et al, 2010;Kuriakose et al, 2012), artificially cultured cells (O'Brien & Lummis, 2006, 2011, fungi (Armaleo et al, 1990;Gu et al, 2011) and bacteria (Smith et al, 1992;Nagata & Koide, 2010). A number of commercial gene guns have been manufactured and used for in vivo gene transfection in plants, living animals, cultured cells, e.g.…”