Synthetic rEg.P29 Peptides Induce Protective Immune Responses Against <i>Echinococcus granulosus</i> in Mice
<b>Background:</b> <i>Echinococcus granulosus</i> represents a significant threat to animal husbandry and human health, but its consequences are often underestimated. Vaccination can prevent <i>E. granulosus</i> infection. We investigated the immune protective eff...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Vaccines |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/13/3/266 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | <b>Background:</b> <i>Echinococcus granulosus</i> represents a significant threat to animal husbandry and human health, but its consequences are often underestimated. Vaccination can prevent <i>E. granulosus</i> infection. We investigated the immune protective effect induced by the recombinant protein P29 of <i>E. granulosus</i> (rEg.P29) peptide vaccine. <b>Methods</b>: The CD4<sup>+</sup> T-, CD8<sup>+</sup> T-, Treg-, and CD8<sup>+</sup>CD107a<sup>+</sup> T-cell proportions in the spleen and peripheral blood of infected mice were analyzed using flow cytometry. Additionally, we measured the proportions of IFN-γ and IL-2 secreted by memory T cells, CD19<sup>+</sup>CD138<sup>−</sup>B cells, CD19<sup>+</sup>CD138<sup>+</sup> plasmablasts, CD19<sup>−</sup>CD138<sup>+</sup> plasma cells, and CD19<sup>+</sup>IgD<sup>−</sup>IgG<sup>+</sup> and CD19<sup>+</sup>IgD<sup>−</sup>IgA<sup>+</sup> memory B cells. <b>Results</b>: No significant differences were noted in CD4<sup>+</sup> T-, CD8<sup>+</sup> T-, and CD8<sup>+</sup>CD107a<sup>+</sup> Treg-cell percentages among the experimental groups. However, IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α levels and vaccine-specific antibody concentrations in the plasma were significantly elevated in the rEg.P29<sub>T+B</sub> + CpG + infection and rEg.P29 + CpG + infection groups compared to those in the PBS + infection and CpG + infection groups. Similarly, CD19<sup>−</sup>CD138<sup>+</sup> plasma cell and CD19<sup>+</sup>IgD<sup>−</sup>IgG<sup>+</sup> and CD19<sup>+</sup>IgD<sup>−</sup>IgA<sup>+</sup> memory B-cell populations, along with specific antibodies, were significantly higher in these groups. Especially, the average cyst burden in the rEg.P29<sub>T+B</sub> + CpG + infection and rEg.P29 + CpG + infection groups was significantly reduced compared to that in the PBS + infection and CpG + infection groups. <b>Conclusions</b>: Synthetic peptide vaccines targeting rEg.P29 can effectively inhibit cysts, offering a novel strategy for the development of vaccines against <i>E. granulosus</i>. These findings provide a foundation for further research on the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of rEg.P29-based vaccines. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2076-393X |