Evaluation of protective immune responses induced by DNA vaccines encoding Echinococcus granulosus EgM123 protein in Beagle dogs

Ning Wang; Jinwen Xian; Pengpeng Zhao; Wenqing Zhao; Na Pu; Xinyue Jia; Yanyan Zhang; Xinwen Bo; Zhengrong Wang

doi:10.3389/fvets.2024.1444741

Evaluation of protective immune responses induced by DNA vaccines encoding Echinococcus granulosus EgM123 protein in Beagle dogs

Front Vet Sci. 2024 Sep 25:11:1444741. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1444741. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Ning Wang^#^{1

2

3}, Jinwen Xian^#^{1

2

3}, Pengpeng Zhao^{1

2

3}, Wenqing Zhao^{1

2

4}, Na Pu^{1

2

3}, Xinyue Jia^{1

2

3}, Yanyan Zhang¹, Xinwen Bo^{1

2

3}, Zhengrong Wang^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Shihezi, China.
² Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi, China.
³ College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China.
⁴ College of Animal Science and Technology, Tarim University, Xinjiang, China.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Introduction: Echinococcus granulosus, known as cystic echinococcosis, is a prominent zoonotic parasitic disease of significant global concern. The definitive hosts serves as the primary reservoir for the transmission of echinococcosis, as well as a main factor in the prevention and control of the disease. Unfortunately, there is currently no commercially available vaccine for these hosts. Nevertheless, DNA vaccines show potential as a feasible strategy for the control and management of parasitic diseases.

Methods: In this study, the EgM123 antigen was selected for its well-documented immunogenic properties to develop a DNA vaccine aimed at combating E. granulosus infection in canines.

Results: The results showed a marked increase in IgG levels in the group vaccinated with pVAX1-EgM123 DNA compared to the PBS group. Additionally, the cytokines IL-1, IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-6 were significantly upregulated in the pVAX1-EgM123 DNA vaccine group. Furthermore, in comparison to the PBS control group, the EgM123 DNA vaccine group exhibited a notable 87.85% reduction in worm burden and a 65.00% inhibition in segment development.

Discussion: These findings indicate that the pVAX1-EgM123 DNA vaccine shows promising immunogenicity, successfully eliciting a targeted immune response in canines. Moreover, it significantly diminishes the worm burden and hinders the progression of tapeworms in the pVAX1-EgM123 DNA vaccine group. These findings suggest that the pVAX1-EgM123 DNA vaccine holds promise as a potential candidate vaccine for combating E. granulosus infection in dogs.

Keywords: DNA vaccine; Echinococcus granulosus; EgM123; definitive-host; worm burden.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant nos. 32360887 and 31860701), the Important Science and Technology Specific Projects of State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production (grant no. 2021ZD02), and the International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Projects of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (grant no. 2021 BC008).