ARS | Publication request: NAKED DNA IMMUNIZATION WITH A PLASMID ENCODING AN EIMERIA SURFACE SPOROZOITE PROTEIN AND ORAL FEEDING OF BACULOVIRUS EXPRESSED EIMERIA PROTEIN ELICIT SERUM ANTIBODIES AND REDUCE OOCYST OUTPUT

Submitted to: Coccidiosis International Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: August 30, 1998
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: Two inbred white leghorn chicken strains were immunized with a cDNA encoding a 19 kDa protein of Eimeria acervulina (pCDNA-EASP) using a gene gun. Serum antibodies and fecal oocyst counts were used to assess development of coccidia-specific host immunity. Chickens immunized with pCDNA-EASP showed coccidia-specific serum antibody increasing progressively with subsequent immunizations, and substantial reduction in oocyst output following challenge infection. Production of anti-coccidia antibody and reduction of oocyst production was dependent upon the amount and frequency of DNA given, and host genetics. In another study, a coccidia gene encoding a conserved protein of sporozoites and merozoites (3-1E) was expressed in baculovirus (SF9-3- 1E). Oral feeding of SF9-3-1E cell lysate induced substantial reduction in oocyst output following challenge infection. The results of these studies demonstrate the importance of route and frequency of immunization, the dose of antigen, and the genetic background of chicken on the outcome of host immunity.