ARS | Publication request: ADJUVANT EFFECTS OF IL-LBETA, IL-2, IL-8, IL-15, IFN-ALPHA, IFN-GAMMA, TGF-BETA4 AND LYMPHOTACTIN ON DNA VACCINATION AGAINST EIMERIA ACERVULINA

Submitted to: American Society of Parasitologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 1, 2001
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Eight chicken cytokine genes (IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-8, IL-15, IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma, TGF-beta4, lymphotactin) were evaluated for their adjuvant effect on a suboptimal dose of an {ital Eimeria} DNA vaccine carrying the 3-1E parasite gene (pcDNA3-1E). Chickens were given two subcutaneous injections with 50 ug of the pcDNA3-1E vaccine plus a cytokine expression plasmid two weeks apart and challenged with E. acervulina one week later. One or 10 ug of IFN-alpha or 10 ug of lymphotactin expressing plasmids, when given simultaneously with the pcDNA3-1E vaccine, significantly protected against body weight loss induced by E. acervulina. Parasite replication was significantly reduced in chickens given the pcDNA3-1E vaccine along with 1.0 ug of the IL-15, IFN-gamma, TGF-beta4 or lymphotactin plasmids or 10ug of the IL-1beta, IL-8, IL-15 or TGF-beta4 plasmids compared with chickens given the pcDNA3-1E vaccine alone. Flow cytometric analysis of duodenum intraepithelial lymphocytes showed chicken that received the pcDNA3-1E vaccine simultaneously with the IL-8 or IL-15 genes had significantly increased CD3+ cells compared with vaccination using pcDNA3-1E alone or in combination with the other cytokine genes tested. These results indicate that the type and the dose of cytokine genes injected into chickens influence the quality of the local immune response to DNA vaccination against coccidiosis. (partially Supported by CSRS USDA NRI Grant98-35204-6471) >