%0 Journal Article
%T A novel DNA vaccine encoding the SRS13 protein administered by electroporation confers protection against chronic toxoplasmosis.
%A Gül C
%A Gül A
%A Karakavuk T
%A Erkunt Alak S
%A Karakavuk M
%A Can H
%A Değirmenci Döşkaya A
%A Yavuz İ
%A Kaplan S
%A Erel Akbaba G
%A Şen Karaman D
%A Akbaba H
%A Efe Köseoğlu A
%A Ovayurt T
%A Yüksel Gürüz A
%A Ün C
%A Kantarcı AG
%A Döşkaya M
%J Vaccine
%V 0
%N 0
%D 2024 Jun 15
%M 38880692
%F 4.169
%R 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.06.032
%X Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that can infect a variety of mammals including humans and causes toxoplasmosis. Unfortunately, a protective and safe vaccine against toxoplasmosis hasn't been developed yet. In this study, we developed a DNA vaccine encoding the SRS13 protein and immunized BALB/c mice thrice with pVAX1-SRS13 through the intramuscular route (IM) or intradermally using an electroporation device (ID + EP). The immunogenicity of pVAX1-SRS13 was analyzed by ELISA, Western blot, cytokine ELISA, and flow cytometry. The protective efficacy of the pVAX1-SRS13 was investigated by challenging mice orally with T. gondii PRU strain tissue cysts. The results revealed that pVAX1-SRS13 administered through IM or ID + EP routes induced high level of anti-SRS13 IgG antibody responses (P = 0.0037 and P < 0.0001). The IFN-γ level elicited by the pVAX1-SRS13 (ID + EP) was significantly higher compared to the control group (P = 0.00159). In mice administered with pVAX1-SRS13 (ID + EP), CD8+ cells secreting IFN-γ was significantly higher compared to pVAX1-SRS13 (IM) (P = 0.0035) and the control group (P = 0.0068). Mice vaccinated with the SRS13 DNA vaccine did not induce significant IL-4 level. Moreover, a significant reduction in the number of tissue cysts and the load of T. gondii DNA was detected in brains of mice administered with pVAX1-SRS13 through ID + EP and IM routes compared to controls. In conclusion, the SRS13 DNA vaccine was found to be highly immunogenic and confers strong protection against chronic toxoplasmosis.