Induction of protection in murine experimental models against Trichinella spiralis: an up-to-date review.

The parasitic nematode Trichinella spiralis, an aetiological agent of the disease known as trichinellosis, infects wild and domestic animals through contaminated pig meat, which is the major source for Trichinella transmission. Prevention of this disease by interrupting parasite transmission includes vaccine development for livestock; however, major challenges to this strategy are the complexity of the T. spiralis life cycle, diversity of stage-specific antigens, immune-evasion strategies and the modulatory effect of host responses.

A prime-boost vaccination of mice with attenuated Salmonella expressing a 30-mer peptide from the Trichinella spiralis gp43 antigen.

Protection against Trichinella infections has been achieved using various parasite antigens and adjuvants. Recently, we reported that immunization of mice with an attenuated Salmonella strain displaying a 30-mer peptide (residues 210-239) from the Trichinella spiralis gp43 antigen using the ShdA autotransporter induced partial protection against T. spiralis infection.