Fasciola gigantica and Schistosoma mansoni: Vaccine potential of recombinant glutathione S-transferase (rFgGST26) against infections in mice

Abstract

Recombinant Fasciola gigantica glutathione S-transferase (rFgGST26) was expressed in Escherichia coli. This protein had 86% and 56% sequence identity with 26 kDa GST from Fasciola hepatica and Schistosoma mansoni, respectively. Polyclonal antibody raised in ICR mice against rFgGST26 recognized immunoblotted 26 kDa native GSTs from F. gigantica and S. mansoni. rFgGST26 was used as a vaccine in combination with Freund’s adjuvant to evaluate the induction of immune responses and protection against F. gigantica and S. mansoni infection in mice. Mice were immunized via subcutaneous (s.c.), intramuscular (i.m.) or intradermal (i.d.) routes. Strong protection (77–84%) against F. gigantica was observed in all routes. Immunization via s.c. route induced immune response with IgG1 isotype predominating, while i.m. and i.d. routes resulted in mixed IgG1/IgG2a immune responses. Passive intraperitoneal transfer of IgG1 predominating antisera from s.c. rFgGST26-immunized donors to naïve recipient mice resulted in 47% protection against F. gigantica infection. This suggests that the mechanism of resistance depends on the presence of specific antibody against rFgGST26. Immunization with rFgGST26 via i.m. and i.d. routes resulted in significant cross protection (55%) against S. mansoni infection in the i.d. route with mixed IgG1/IgG2a response with IgG1 isotype predominating. This indicated that rFgGST26 is a good vaccine candidate against F. gigantica in mice and could also provide cross protection against S. mansoni.