Identification of ribosomal phosphoprotein P0 of Neospora caninum as a potential common vaccine candidate for the control of both neosporosis and toxoplasmosis.

Abstract

The characterization of the cross-reactive antigens of two closely related apicomplexan parasites, Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii, is important to elucidate the common mechanisms of parasite-host interactions. In this context, a gene encoding N. caninum ribosomal phosphoprotein P0 (NcP0) was identified by immunoscreening of a N. caninum tachyzoite cDNA expression library with antisera from mice immunized with T. gondii tachyzoites. The NcP0 was encoded by a gene with open reading frame of 936 bp, which encoded a protein of 311 amino acids. The NcP0 gene existed as a single copy in the genome and was interrupted by a 432 bp intron. The NcP0 showed 94.5% amino acid identity to T. gondii P0 (TgP0). Anti-recombinant NcP0 (rNcP0) sera recognized a native parasite protein with a molecular mass of 34 kDa in Western blot analysis. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that the NcP0 was localized to the surface of N. caninum tachyzoites. A purified anti-rNcP0 IgG antibody inhibited the growth of N. caninum and T. gondii in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner. These results indicate that P0 is a cross-reactive antigen between N. caninum and T. gondii and a potential common vaccine candidate to control both parasites.

• Authors: Houshuang Zhang, Eung-goo Lee, Min Liao, Muller K A Compaore, Guohong Zhang, Osamu Kawase, Kozo Fujisaki, Chihiro Sugimoto, Yoshifumi Nishikawa, Xuenan Xuan
• Journal: Molecular and biochemical parasitology (Mol Biochem Parasitol) Vol. 153 Issue 2 Pg. 141-8 (Jun 2007) ISSN: 0166-6851 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 17412435 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Protozoan
• Antigens, Protozoan
• Protozoan Vaccines
• Recombinant Proteins
• Ribosomal Proteins
• ribosomal protein P0

Topics

• Amino Acid Sequence
• Animals
• Antibodies, Protozoan (blood, immunology)
• Antigens, Protozoan (immunology)
• Coccidiosis (parasitology, prevention & control)
• Cross Reactions
• Gene Library
• Mice
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Neospora (genetics, growth & development, immunology, metabolism)
• Protozoan Vaccines (immunology)
• Recombinant Proteins (immunology)
• Ribosomal Proteins (chemistry, genetics, immunology)
• Sequence Analysis, DNA
• Toxoplasma (growth & development, immunology)
• Toxoplasmosis, Animal (parasitology, prevention & control)