• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.107-110
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• 2000

We investigated the role of recombinant Toxoplasma gondii heat shock protein (rT.g.HSP) 70-full length, rT.g. HSP70-NH2-terminal region, or rT.g. HSP70-carboxy-terminal region in prophylactic immunity in C57BL/6 mice perorally infected with Fukaya cysts of T. gondii. At 3, 4, 5, and 6 weeks after infection, the number of T gondii in the brain tissue of each mouse was measured by quantitative competitive-polymerase chain reaction (QC-PCR) targeting the surface antigen (SAG) 1 gene. Immunization with rT.g.HSP70-full length or rT.g.HSP70-carboxy-terminal region increased the number of T. gondii in the brain tissue after T. gondii infection, whereas immunization with rT.g.HSP70-NHa-terminal region did not. These results suggest that T.g. HSP70-carboxy-terminal region as well as T.g.HSP70-full length may induce deleterious effects on the protective immunity of mice infected with a cyst-forming T. gondii strain, Fukaya.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 1997

The molecular weight 30 kDa membrane protein of Toxoplusma Sondii (Toxoplasma 30 kDa) apparently conserved in most strains of T. gondii and sera of infected hosts. The present study aimed to elucidate Toxoplasmc 30 kDa as a useful diagnotic antigen for serodiagnisis of toxoplasmosis by ELISA and for induction of protective immunity. Murine spleen cells immunized with the membrane antigen of T. gondii were fused with mouse Sp2/0-Ag 14 myeloma cells. Out of 8 clones selected, five were IgG2b, the others belonged to IgG 1 and IgG2a. The 30 kDa antigen was distributed mainly on the surface membrane of tachyzoites by indirect fluorescence method. Murine peritoneal macrophages which were activated by 30 kDa antigen produced more amounts of NO2 compared with crude antigen-treated group, however there were no significant differences in toxoplamacidal activity between the two groups. Higher specificity of Toxoplosma 30 kDa antigen was recognized for serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis than the crude antigen. From these results, ToxopLasmo 30 kDa antigen enhances the cytotoxic effect of macrophages as well as a more reliable means for the serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis by ELISA. Key words: Toxoplosma gondii, 30 kDa antigen (p30), mouse, serodiagnosis, macrophage, cytotoxicity.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.85-90
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• 2000

To assess the relationship between the changes of cellular components and the production of Th 1 cytokine in the immune tissue, inbred C57BL/6 mice were orally infected with 40 cysts of 76K strain of Toxoplosma gondii. The sequential change of cell differentials and $IFN-{\gamma}$ production of splenocytes were analyzed by Diff-Quik stain and RT-PCR. There were no significant proportional changes of cellular components of splenocytes until day 4 postinfection (Pl) as compared to those of day 0, and the relative percentage of macrophages and neutrophils/eosinophils increased significantly (p<0.01) thereafter. The expression of $IFN-{\gamma}$ mRNA of $CD3^{-}$ cells was observed from day 1 Pl at a low level. However, $IFN-{\gamma}$ production of $CD3^{+}$ cells increased significantly from day 4 Pl (p<0.01) which progressively increased thereafter. These findings provide the relative percentages of granulocytes and macrophages were increased in conjunction with increase of total number of splenocytes after oral infection with T. gondii in the susceptible murine hosts, and lymphocytes were the major cellular components and the important source of $IFN-{\gamma}$.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.65-74
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• 2000

Toxoplasma-killing activities of mouse peritoneal macrophages activated by the extracts of Tetrahymena pyriformis (Korean and Chinese strains) were evaluated, and the active protein fractions from both strains were partially characterized by a method including chromatographies and SDS-PAGE. The first peak in Korean strain and the second peak in Chinese strain of T. pyriformis obtained by DEAE-Sephadex A-50 chromatography were most effective in the activation of macrophages to kill Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites in vitro. Subsequent fractionations of obtained peak fractions were performed on a Sephadex G-200 gel. The first peaks fractionated from both strains of T. pyrtyomis had the highest toxoplasmacidal activities, and when subjected to the SDS-PAGE, one prominent band was visualized for each of the strains showing the same molecular weight of ca. 52.6 kDa. This active protein is suggested to be related to non-specific activation of mouse peritoneal macrophages.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.363-370
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• 1993

This study was performed to evaluate the prophylactic effects of trimethoprim- sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) In mice experimentally infected with virulent RH strain and avirulent Beverley strain of T dognii. The mice infected with $1{\times}10^5$ tachyzoltes were used In the measurement of mean survival days, and the mice infected with 10 cysts were used In the tltratlons of specific antibodies and enumeration of brawn cysts. Mean survival days of mice were significantly increased In mice treated with TMP-SMZ as compared with splramycln-treated and untreated control group. Mean survival days and survival rates of mice were Increased according to the Increment of dosages, and TMP-SMZ protected 100% of mice after fifteen daily dose of 24 mg/mouse or more admlnlsted orally. Toxoplasma-specific serum IgG and IgM antibody titers were slgnlflcantly lower in mice treated with TMP-SMZ than those of splramycln-treated and untreated control group. Toxoplosma cysts were not found In mice treated with TMP-SMZ at a dose of 24 mg/mouse or more per day but the group of splramycin treatment and untreated controls were found in the brain from 20 days after Infection. The present results revealed that TMP-SMZ can be used as a prophylactic agent against murine toxoplasmosls after Intraperitoneally challenges with the virulent or avlrulent strain of T. gondii.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.185-194
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• 1994

The present study was undertaken to assess the role of cytokines in the activation of peritoneal macrophages from Toxoplasma-infected mice. Peritoneal macrophages from Toxoplasma-infected mice (10 cysts of Beverley strain/mouse) were harvested 8 weeks after infection, and incubated with the mitogen-induced lymphokine, recombinant mouse $interferon-{\gamma}(IFN-{\gamma})$, recombinant mouse tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}{\;}(TNF-{\alpha})$ alone or in combination with 4$IFN-{\gamma}(IFN-{\gamma}/TNF-{\alpha})$ for 24hr at 37^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$. Macrophage activation was measured by the amount of $H_20_2{\;}and{\;}N0_2^{-}$ production, and antiToxoplasma activities of macrophages. $IFN-{\gamma}{\;}or{\;}IFN-{\gamma}/TNF-{\alpha}-treated$ macrophages from Toxoplasma-infected mice revealed significantly higher $H_20_2$ production than resident macrophages from Toxoplasma-infected mice. The production of $N0_2^{-}{\;}by{\;}TNF-{\alpha}-,{\;}IFN-{\gamma}-{\;}or{\;}IFN-{\gamma}/TNF-{\alpha}-treated$ macrophages from Toxoplasma-infected mice were significantly higher than that by resident macrophages, whereas lymphokine-treated group produced similar amount as that produced by resident macrophages. Anti-Toxoplasma activities of cytokinetreated macrophages from Toxoplasma-infected mice were Significantly higher than those of resident macrophages. $IFN-{\gamma}-treated$ macrophages were significantly increased production of $H_20_2{\;}and{\;}N0_2^{-}$, and anti-Toxoplasma activities of macrophages between normal and Toxoplasma-infected mice, whereas the other cytokine-treated groups were not significant differences between them. These data suggested that IFN-{\gamma}was the only one of cytokines capable of significantly activating the peritoneal macrophages from Toxoplasmainfected mice.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 1996

Antigenic domain of jai or surface protein (p30) of Toxoplosmc Sondii was analyzed after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of its gene fragments. Hydrophilic or hydrophobic moiety of amino acid sequences were expressed as glutathione S-transferase (G57) fusion proteins. Fragments of p30 gene were as follows: 737, total p30 open reading frame (ORF) ; S28, total ORF excluding N-terminal signal sequence and C-terminal hydrophobic sequence; Al9, N-terminal 2/3 parts of A28; A19, N-terminal 2/3 of S28; P9, C-terminal 2/3 part of S28; Z9. middle 1/3 of S28; and 29, C-terminal 1/3 of S28. respectively. Primer of each fragment was synthesized to include clamp sequence of EcoR I restriction site. PCR amplified DNA was inserted info GST (26 kDa) expression vector, PGEX-47-1 to transform into Escheri,hia coei (.JM105 strain). G57 fusion proteins were expressed with IPTG induction as 63. 54, 45, 45, 35, 36. and 35 kDa proteins measured by SDS-PAGE. Each fusion protein was confirmed with G57 detection kit. Western blot analysis with the serum of a toxoplasmosis patient revealed antigenicity in proteins expressed by T37. S28, and Al9 but not those by Pl8. X9, Y10, and Z9. Antigenicity of p30 seems to be located either in N-terminal 115 part in the presence of middle 1/3 part or in the oligopeptides between margins of the first and second 1/3 parts.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.201-210
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• 1995

This study aims to assess the possible strain-dependent variations in detection of ToxopLosmn antigens and antibodies. The virulent RH strain or avirulent Beverley strain of T gondii were injected into mice, intraperitoneally, and their antigens, antibodies and parasites were identified from the blood or tissues: liver, brain and spleen by ELISA, Western blot and PCR. In mice infected with RH strain, circulating antigens and parasitemia were first detected from 2 days after infection, and ToxopIasma DNA were found in the blood, liver, brain and spleen from 3 days after infection. It was impossible to detect specific IgM and IgG antibodies to T gondij and any specific band was not found by Western blot. In mice infected with Beverley strain, circulating antigens were detected between day 10 and day 35. The Toxoplusma DNA was found in the blood and liver from day 15 until day 60, and in the brain from day 20. But Toxoplosma DNA in the spleen were mainly detected between day 10 and day 30. The IgM antibodies were first appeared on day 10 post-infection, and were noted obviously increased between day 15 and 25. The IgG antibodies were first detected on day 15, and showed progressively increased titers. The antibody binding bands were specific according to infection period. Sera from mice infected with Beverley strain reacted mainly with the antigen of 27.5-kDa and 32.5-kDa. In conclusion, mice infected with RH strain revealed Toxoplosma antigens strongly, but not antibodies. However. mice infected with Beverley strain revealed both the Toxoplasma antigens and antibodies. The present results showed that immune responses are different between avirulent and virulent T gonnii.