First detection and characterisation of Eimeria zaria in European chickens.

The global poultry industry has experienced dramatic growth in recent decades, increasing the significance of pathogens of chickens. Protozoan parasites of the genus Eimeria can cause the disease coccidiosis, compromising animal health and welfare, and incurring significant annual costs. Seven Eimeria species have long been recognised to infect chickens, supplemented by three new candidate species first reported from Australia in 2007/8.

Identification and characterization of a Babesia bigemina thrombospondin-related superfamily member, TRAP-1: a novel antigen containing neutralizing epitopes involved in merozoite invasion.

Background: Thrombospondin-related anonymous protein (TRAP) has been described as a potential vaccine candidate for several diseases caused by apicomplexan parasites. However, this protein and members of this family have not yet been characterized in Babesia bigemina, one of the most prevalent species causing bovine babesiosis.

Methods: The 3186-bp Babesia bigemina TRAP-1 (BbiTRAP-1) gene was identified by a bioinformatics search using the B.

Immunisation of cattle against Babesia bovis combining a multi-epitope modified vaccinia Ankara virus and a recombinant protein induce strong Th1 cell responses but fails to trigger neutralising antibodies required for protection.

Protection against the intraerythrocytic protozoan parasite Babesia bovis depends on both strong innate and adaptive immune response, this latter involving the presentation of parasite antigens to CD4 T-lymphocytes by professional antigen-presenting cells. Secretion of Th1 cytokines by CD4 T cell is also very important for isotype switching to IgG, the best opsonising antibody isotype in cattle, to target extracellular parasites and parasite antigens displayed at the erythrocyte surface. In the field of vaccinology, heterologous prime-boost schemes combining protein-adjuvant formulations with a modified vaccinia Ankara vector expressing the same antigen have demonstrated the induction of both humoral and cellular immune responses.

Development of an Indirect ELISA Based on a Recombinant Chimeric Protein for the Detection of Antibodies against Bovine Babesiosis.

The current method for spp. serodiagnosis based on a crude merozoite antigen is a complex and time-consuming procedure. An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA) based on a recombinant multi-antigen of (rMABbO) was developed for detection of antibodies in bovines suspected of infection with this parasite.

Evaluation of different heterologous prime-boost immunization strategies against Babesia bovis using viral vectored and protein-adjuvant vaccines based on a chimeric multi-antigen.

Protection against the intraerythrocytic bovine parasite Babesia bovis requires both humoral and cellular immune responses. Therefore, tailored combinations of immunogens targeted at both arms of the immune system are strategies of choice to pursue sterilizing immunity. In this study, different heterologous prime-boost vaccination schemes were evaluated in mice to compare the immunogenicity induced by a recombinant adenovirus, a modified vaccinia Ankara vector or a subunit vaccine all expressing a chimeric multi-antigen.

A Neospora caninum vaccine using recombinant proteins fails to prevent foetal infection in pregnant cattle after experimental intravenous challenge.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of rNcSAG1, rNcHSP20 and rNcGRA7 recombinant proteins formulated with immune stimulating complexes (ISCOMs) in pregnant heifers against vertical transmission of Neospora caninum. Twelve pregnant heifers were divided into 3 groups of 4 heifers each, receiving different formulations before mating. Immunogens were administered twice subcutaneously: group A animals were inoculated with three recombinant proteins (rNcSAG1, rNcHSP20, rNcGRA7) formulated with ISCOMs; group B animals received ISCOM-MATRIX (without antigen) and group C received sterile phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) only.

Vaccine strategies against Babesia bovis based on prime-boost immunizations in mice with modified vaccinia Ankara vector and recombinant proteins.

In this study, a recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara vector expressing a chimeric multi-antigen was obtained and evaluated as a candidate vaccine in homologous and heterologous prime-boost immunizations with a recombinant protein cocktail. The chimeric multi-antigen comprises immunodominant B and T cell regions of three Babesia bovis proteins. Humoral and cellular immune responses were evaluated in mice to compare the immunogenicity induced by different immunization schemes.