AUTHOR=Tian Xiaowei , Sun Hanqi , Wang Meng , Wan Guangmin , Xie Tong , Mei Xuefang , Zhang Zhenchao , Li Xiangrui , Wang Shuai 

TITLE=A Novel Vaccine Candidate: Recombinant Toxoplasma gondii Perforin-Like Protein 2 Stimulates Partial Protective Immunity Against Toxoplasmosis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2021

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.802250

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2021.802250

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan pathogen infecting 2 billion people and numerous livestock, causing a major threat to economies and human health. Passive-active immunoprophylaxis is an efficient approach to provide protection against Toxoplasmosis. T. gondii perforin-like protein 2 (TgPLP2) contains a membrane attack complex/perforin (MACPF) domain, making it a potential vaccine candidate. Here, we aimed to assess the protection efficacy of TgPLP2 using BALB/c mice model. The Escherichia coli system was used to obtain the recombinant TgPLP2 (rTgPLP2). Mice challenged by anti-rTgPLP2 PcAb pretreated tachyzoites showed obviously increased survival outcomes. In addition, mice passive received with anti-rTgPLP2 PcAb following a lethal dose of tachyzoites infection had longer survival time compared with PBS controls. Furthermore, we demonstrated that immunization with rTgPLP2 could prolong survival in RH strain infected mice and resulted in the lowest brain cysts size and number of PRU strain infected mice. High levels of Toxoplasma-specific IgG, IgG1, IgG2a and cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-10) were produced after twice immunization with rTgPLP2. Together these results indicated that TgPLP2 can induce both humoral and cellular immune responses to protect host against infection, thus is a potential candidate for T. gondii vaccines.