Craig T. Kyngdon

Induction of Protection against Porcine Cysticercosis by Vaccination with Recombinant Oncosphere Antigens

ABSTRACT Two recombinant Taenia solium oncosphere antigens, designated TSOL18 and TSOL45-1A, were investigated as vaccines to prevent transmission of the zoonotic disease cysticercosis through pigs. Both antigens were effective in inducing very high levels of protection (up to 100%) in three independent vaccine trials in pigs against experimental challenge infection with T. solium eggs, which were undertaken in Mexico and Cameroon. This is the highest level of protection that has been achieved against T. solium infection in pigs by vaccination with a defined antigen. TSOL18 and TSOL45-1A provide the basis for development of a highly effective practical vaccine that could assist in the control and, potentially, the eradication of human neurocysticercosis.

Elimination of Taenia solium transmission to pigs in a field trial of the TSOL18 vaccine in Cameroon.

Graphical abstract

IN VITRO ONCOSPHERE-KILLING ASSAYS TO DETERMINE IMMUNITY TO THE LARVAE OF TAENIA PISIFORMIS, TAENIA OVIS, TAENIA SAGINATA, AND TAENIA SOLIUM

Taeniid cestodes infect humans and livestock, causing considerable morbidity and mortality, as well as economic loss. Substantial progress has been made toward the production of recombinant vaccines against cysticercosis in livestock animals. Further development of these vaccines would be aided if a reliable in vitro test were available to measure host-protective immune responses in vaccinated animals. Here, we describe in vitro oncosphere-killing assays for the quantification of host-protective serum antibodies against Taenia pisiformis, Taenia ovis, Taenia saginata, and Taenia solium in rabbits, sheep, cattle, and pigs, respectively. Activated oncospheres of T. pisiformis, T. ovis, T. saginata, and T. solium were incubated in vitro in culture medium, test serum, and a source of complement, and oncosphere killing was assessed after 10 days of culture. In vitro oncosphere killing reflected the presence of specific antibody, and the oncosphere-killing assay typically indicated immunity to the homologous parasite that had been determined in vivo. This study describes the first reliable oncosphere-killing assays for T. pisiformis, T. ovis, T. saginata, and T. solium. These assays will be used for further research into the optimization of recombinant vaccines against cysticercosis.

Successful immunization of naturally reared pigs against porcine cysticercosis with a recombinant oncosphere antigen vaccine.

Taenia solium causes cysticercosis in pigs and taeniasis and neurocysticercosis in humans. Oncosphere antigens have proven to be effective as vaccines to protect pigs against an experimental infection with T. solium. A pair-matched vaccination trial field, using a combination of two recombinant antigens, TSOL16 and TSOL18, was undertaken in rural villages of Peru to evaluate the efficacy of this vaccine under natural conditions. Pairs of pigs (n = 137) comprising one vaccinated and one control animal, were allocated to local villagers. Animals received two vaccinations with 200 μg of each of TSOL16 and TSOL18, plus 5 mg Quil-A. Necropsies were performed 7 months after the animals were distributed to the farmers. Vaccination reduced 99.7% and 99.9% (p < 0.01) the total number of cysts and the number of viable cysts, respectively. Immunization with the TSOL16–TSOL18 vaccines has the potential to control T. solium transmission in areas where the disease is endemic, reducing the source for tapeworm infections in humans.

Antibody responses and epitope specificities to the Taenia solium cysticercosis vaccines TSOL18 and TSOL45-1A

Taenia solium is a cestode parasite that causes cysticercosis in humans and pigs. This study examined the antibody responses in pigs immunized with the TSOL18 and TSOL45‐1A recombinant vaccines against T. solium cysticercosis. Immunization with these proteins induced specific, complement‐fixing antibodies against the recombinant antigens that are believed to be associated with vaccine‐induced protection against T. solium infection. Sera from immunized pigs were used to define the linear B‐cell epitopes of TSOL18 and TSOL45‐1A. Prominent reactivity was revealed to one linear epitope on TSOL18 and two linear epitopes on TSOL45‐1A. These, and oncosphere antigens from other taeniid cestodes, contain a protein sequence motif suggesting that they may show a tertiary structure similar to the fibronectin type III domain (FnIII). Comparison of the location of linear antigenic epitopes in TSOL18 and TSOL45‐1A within the proposed FnIII structure to those within related cestode vaccine antigens reveals conservation in the positioning of the epitopes between oncosphere antigens from different taeniid species.

Localisation of three host-protective oncospheral antigens of Taenia ovis.

Immunohistochemistry, confocal immunofluorescence and immunogold labelling were used to determine the localisation of the host-protective antigens To16, To18 and To45W in Taenia ovis oncospheres. During maturation of the adult tapeworm the antigens were initially seen as diffuse staining in the developing oncospheres but in mature oncospheres four distinct cells stained positively for the antigens. Confocal fluorescence microscopy using different fluorophores revealed that each of the antigens co-localises within the same cells in the oncosphere. No surface localisation was seen in non-activated or recently activated parasites. Immunogold labelling of non-activated oncosphere sections viewed in transmission electron microscopy revealed labelling of bilateral cells, however the identities of these cells was unclear due to deficiencies in the current level of understanding of oncosphere ultrastructure. Localisation of all the antigens changed dramatically after oncospheres were activated in vitro with each of the antigens being dispersed more generally throughout the parasite parenchyma. During development of the parasites in in vitro culture, surface localisation of the proteins was seen in parasites after 3 or more days in culture. All three antigens were found to be completely absent in parasites by 15 days of culture. The location of the host-protective antigens suggests that initially the invading oncospheres are not susceptible to vaccine-induced antibody and complement mediated attack, but that as the parasites mature, the host-protective antigens come to be associated with the parasites surface, rendering them susceptible to immune attack.

Characterisation of antibody responses in pigs induced by recombinant oncosphere antigens from Taenia solium

Recombinant antigens cloned from the oncosphere life cycle stage of the cestode parasite Taenia solium (T. solium) have been proven to be effective as vaccines for protecting pigs against infections with T. solium. Previous studies have defined three different host protective oncosphere antigens, TSOL18, TSOL16 and TSOL45. In this study, we evaluated the potential for combining the antigens TSOL16 and TSOL18 as a practical vaccine. Firstly, in a laboratory trial, we compared the immunogenicity of the combined antigens (TSOL16/18) versus the immunogenicity of the antigens separately. Secondly, in a field trial, we tested the ability of the TSOL16/18 vaccine to induce detectable antibody responses in animals living under environmental stress and traditionally reared in areas where T. solium cysticercosis is endemic; and finally, we characterised the immune response of the study population. Pigs of 8-16 weeks of age were vaccinated with 200 μg each of TSOL16 and TSOL18, plus 5mg of Quil-A. Specific total IgG, IgG(1) and IgG(2) antibody responses induced by TSOL16 and TSOL18 were determined with ELISA. The immunogenicity of both antigens was retained in the combined TSOL16/18 vaccine. The combined vaccine TSOL16/18 induced detectable specific anti-TSOL18 antibody responses in 100% (113/113) and specific anti-TSOL16 in 99% (112/113) of the vaccinated animals measured at 2 weeks following the booster vaccination. From the two IgG antibody subtypes analysed we found there was stronger response to IgG(2).

Antibody responses to the host‐protective Taenia solium oncosphere protein TSOL18 in pigs are directed against conformational epitopes

TSOL18 is a recombinant protein that has been shown in repeated experimental trials to be capable of protecting pigs against challenge infection with the cestode parasite Taenia solium. Antibodies raised by the vaccine are capable of killing the parasite in an in vitro culture and it is believed that antibody and complement‐mediated killing of invading parasites is the major protective immune mechanism induced by vaccination with TSOL18. Investigations were undertaken to characterize whether the principal antibody specificities raised by TSOL18 in pigs were against linear or conformational determinants. TSOL18 was expressed in two truncated forms representing either the amino terminal portion or the carboxy terminal portion, with the two truncations overlapping in sequence by 25 amino acids. The original protein (designated TSOL18N−) and the two truncations (TSOL18N−‐1 and TSOL18N−‐2) were used in inhibition ELISA. TSOL18N− was shown to be capable of completely inhibiting the binding of pig anti‐TSOL18N− antibodies to TSOL18N− in ELISA. However, neither TSOL18N−‐1 nor TSOL18N−‐2, either alone or when combined together, was capable of inhibiting any detectable amount of reactivity of pig anti‐TSOL18N− antibodies with TSOL18N−. It is concluded that the dominant antibody specificities, and probably the host‐protective specificities, of TSOL18 are conformational epitopes.