Immunogenicity, safety and dual DIVA-like character of a recombinant candidate vaccine against neosporosis in cattle.

Neosporosis is the major infectious cause of abortion and reproductive losses in cattle worldwide; however, there are no available vaccines or drugs to control this disease. Recently, a dual (positive and negative) DIVA-like (Differentiation of Infected from Vaccinated Animals) vaccine was evaluated in a pregnant mouse model of neosporosis, showing promising immunogenic and protective results. The current report aimed to study the safety, the dose-dependent immunogenicity and the dual DIVA-like character of a recombinant subunit vaccine composed of the major surface antigen from Neospora caninum (rNcSAG1) and the carrier/adjuvant Heat shock protein 81.

Safe plant Hsp90 adjuvants elicit an effective immune response against SARS-CoV2-derived RBD antigen.

To better understand the role of pHsp90 adjuvant in immune response modulation, we proposed the use of the Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) of the Spike protein of SARS-CoV2, the principal candidate in the design of subunit vaccines. We evaluated the humoral and cellular immune responses against RBD through the strategy "protein mixture" (Adjuvant + Antigen). The rRBD adjuvanted with rAtHsp81.

Dysfunction, oxidative stress markers, and cytokine expression in the placentae of mice experimentally infected with Neospora caninum.

Neosporosis is the major cause of abortion and reproductive failures in cattle, leading to significant economic losses. In this study, we evaluated the impact of Neospora caninum infection on oxidative stress (OS) markers and local cytokine mRNA expression at the placenta, as well as its effect on the progesterone (P) serum levels and systemic cytokine profile in a pregnant mouse model. Infected pregnant mice (NC-1 group) showed increased percentages of fetal losses and IFN-γ serum levels, decreased serum progesterone, increased placental mRNA expression levels of both Th1-type (IFN-γ and TNF-α) and Th2-type (IL-4) cytokines, and inhibited expression of TGF-β1 (Treg) compare to control dams (CONTROL group).

Neosporosis in sheep: A systematic review and meta-analysis of global seroprevalence and related risk factors.

Neosporosis is recognized as the main cause of abortions in cattle worldwide and there is an increasing concern about its role in ovine reproductive losses; however, epidemiological studies regarding neosporosis in sheep are still limited. This meta-analysis aimed to estimate the global pooled seroprevalence and associated risk factors of ovine neosporosis. In the current report, a comprehensive strategy of search and data collection from 7 worldwide databases was performed.

Oral Immunization With a Plant HSP90-SAG1 Fusion Protein Produced in Tobacco Elicits Strong Immune Responses and Reduces Cyst Number and Clinical Signs of Toxoplasmosis in Mice.

Plant 90kDa heat shock protein (HSP90) is a potent adjuvant that increases both humoral and cellular immune responses to diverse proteins and peptides. In this study, we explored whether HSP90 (AtHsp81.2) can improve the immune effects of a surface antigen 1 (SAG1).

Heat Shock Proteins 90 kDa: Immunomodulators and Adjuvants in Vaccine Design Against Infectious Diseases.

Heat shock proteins 90 kDa (Hsp90s) were originally identified as stress-responsive proteins and described to participate in several homeostatic processes. Additionally, extracellular Hsp90s have the ability to bind to surface receptors and activate cellular functions related to immune response (cytokine secretion, cell maturation, and antigen presentation), making them very attractive to be studied as immunomodulators. In this context, Hsp90s are proposed as new adjuvants in the design of novel vaccine formulations that require the induction of a cell-mediated immune response to prevent infectious diseases.

Use of Veterinary Vaccines for Livestock as a Strategy to Control Foodborne Parasitic Diseases.

Foodborne diseases (FBDs) are a major concern worldwide since they are associated with high mortality and morbidity in the human population. Among the causative agents of FBDs, spp., and are listed in the top global risk ranking of foodborne parasites.

The potential of a DIVA-like recombinant vaccine composed by rNcSAG1 and rAtHsp81.2 against vertical transmission in a mouse model of congenital neosporosis.

Neospora caninum is the etiological agent of neosporosis, a worldwide infectious disease recognized as the major cause of abortions and reproductive failures in livestock, responsible for significant economic losses in cattle industries. Currently, there are not cost-effective control options for this pathology, and the development of a vaccine involving new and integrated approaches is highly recommended. In this study, we evaluated the immunogenic and protective efficacy, as well as the potential DIVA (Differentiation of Infected from Vaccinated Animals) character of a recombinant subunit vaccine composed by the major surface antigen from N.

Heat treatment alleviates the growth and photosynthetic impairment of transplastomic plants expressing Leishmania infantum Hsp83-Toxoplasma gondii SAG1 fusion protein.

Previously, we showed that transplastomic tobacco plants expressing the LiHsp83-SAG1 fusion protein displayed a chlorotic phenotype and growth retardation, while plants expressing the SAG1 and GRA4 antigens alone did not. We conducted a comprehensive examination of the metabolic and photosynthetic parameters that could be affecting the normal growth of LiHsp83-SAG1 plants in order to understand the origin of these pleiotropic effects. These plants presented all photosynthetic pigments and parameters related to PSII efficiency significantly diminished.

Plant Hsp90 is a novel adjuvant that elicits a strong humoral and cellular immune response against B- and T-cell epitopes of a Toxoplasma gondii SAG1 peptide.

Background: The 90-kDa heat-shock protein (Hsp90) from Nicotiana benthamiana (NbHsp90.3) is a promising adjuvant, especially for those vaccines that require a T cell-mediated immune response. Toxoplasma gondii SAG1 is considered one of the most important antigens for the development of effective subunit vaccines.

Plant Serine Protease Inhibitors: Biotechnology Application in Agriculture and Molecular Farming.

The serine protease inhibitors (SPIs) are widely distributed in living organisms like bacteria, fungi, plants, and humans. The main function of SPIs as protease enzymes is to regulate the proteolytic activity. In plants, most of the studies of SPIs have been focused on their physiological role.

Promising Plant-Derived Adjuvants in the Development of Coccidial Vaccines.

Coccidial parasites cause medical and veterinary diseases worldwide, frequently leading to severe illness and important economic losses. At present, drugs, chemotherapeutics and prophylactic vaccines are still missing for most of the coccidial infections. Moreover, the development and administration of drugs and chemotherapeutics against these diseases would not be adequate in livestock, since they may generate unacceptable residues in milk and meat that would avoid their commercialization.

The fusion of Toxoplasma gondii SAG1 vaccine candidate to Leishmania infantum heat shock protein 83-kDa improves expression levels in tobacco chloroplasts.

Chloroplast transformation technology has emerged as an alternative platform offering many advantages over nuclear transformation. SAG1 is the main surface antigen of the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii and a promising candidate to produce an anti-T. gondii vaccine.

Systemic inflammation, cellular influx and up-regulation of ovarian VCAM-1 expression in a mouse model of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

PCOS, a major cause of anovulatory sterility, is associated with obesity, insulin resistance and chronic inflammation. New evidence suggests that the immune system aggravates the clinical features of PCOS. Our aim was to study the immune, metabolic and endocrine features of a mouse model of PCOS elicited by androgenisation using dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).

Alterations of folliculogenesis in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

The objective of the present study was to examine some factors involved in follicular development of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Women with PCOS showed increased levels of serum luteinizing hormone (LH) but decreased follicular production of progesterone and estradiol by pre-ovulatory follicles. The mRNA expression corresponding to steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), and 20alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20α-HSD) was increased, while that corresponding to cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom) was decreased in PCOS follicles as compared to controls.

Hyperandrogenism alters intraovarian parameters during early folliculogenesis in mice.

This study aimed to investigate how hyperandrogenism affects early folliculogenesis. Hyperandrogenism was induced in prepuberal female BALB/c mice by daily s.c.

Effect of DHEA and metformin on corpus luteum in mice.

We evaluated the effect of hyperandrogenism in ovaries with functional and regressing corpora lutea (CL) and the action of metformin in preventing these possible alterations using a mouse model. To obtain a CL functional for 9+/-1 days, immature female mice of the BALB/c strain were injected i.p.

Regulation of functional and regressing stages of corpus luteum development in mice. Role of reactive oxygen species.

The endocrine and immune systems modulate ovarian function. The aim of the present work was to compare the status of various modulating factors in two well-defined stages of corpus luteum (CL) development (the functional stage and the regressing stage) by means of a gonadotropin-synchronised mouse model. At the regressing stage of CL development, we found that ovarian tissue showed increased prostaglandin (PG) F(2alpha) and diminished PGE levels concomitantly with enhanced protein abundance of ovarian cyclooxygenase 2, the inducible isoform of the limiting enzyme of PG synthesis.

Winter survival of immature instars of Mansonia indubitans Dyar & Shannon and Mansonia titillans Walker (Diptera: Culicidae), in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

We conducted a whole year research on the ecology of Mansonia indubitans and Ma. titillans in Macáes Pond, Costanera Sur Reserve, Buenos Aires, Argentina. The usage of different floating plants by immature instars and their overwintering was analyzed.