In an attempt to construct a DNA vaccine against chicken coccidiosis, the TA4 gene of Eimeria tenella strain BJ was ligated to the mammalian expression vector pcDNA3.1/Zeo(+) to give pcDNA3.1-TA4 (pcDT). Then, Et1A (E. tenella refractile body gene) was ligated to it, upstream, aiming to be expressed in fusion with TA4, giving pcDNA3.1-Et1A-TA4 (pcDET). The constructed DNA vaccines were given to broilers intramuscularly 10-15 min after the breasts had been pre-treated with 25% sucrose solution. At 7 days after the second vaccination, chickens were challenged with 3 x 10(4) sporulated oocysts of E. tenella BJ. The chickens were killed and the lesion scores of the ceca, the relative body-weight gains and the numbers of oocysts in the ceca of each group of chickens were calculated at day 8 post-inoculation. Results indicated that both pcDT and pcDET could induce protective immunity against coccidial challenge. Their use could obviously reduce oocyst output and alleviate chicken body-weight decrease due to coccidial infection. An anti-coccidial index of 160 was achieved with a treatment of 50 microg pcDET and 100 microg pcDT.

(‐)‐Epigallocatechin 3‐O‐(3‐O‐methyl) gallate (EGCG3″Me) has exhibited various biological activities in oolong tea; however, its absorption is poor. In this study, the role of phospholipids on the digestive enzymes inhibitory effect of EGCG3″Me was investigated. EGCG3″ was purified from oolong tea and used to prepare EGCG3″Me‐phospholipids complex (EPC). The results showed that EPC exhibited relatively higher stability than EGCG3″Me in mimicked digestion conditions, and the presence of phospholipids increased the transepithelial transport of EGCG3″Me. The half inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of EGCG3″Me and EPC for α‐amylase were 0.54 and 1.49 mg/mL, respectively, while the values were 1.14 and 1.69 mg/mL, respectively, for lipase. Lineweaver‐Burk double reciprocal plots indicated the inhibitory types of EPC were competitive for α‐amylase, whereas it was noncompetitive for lipase. Since phospholipids could improve the bioavailability of tea polyphenols, our investigation may be useful in manufacturing functional foods with increased absorption, containing high content of tea polyphenols. Practical applications The findings suggest the potential of phospholipids for the promotion of the inhibitory effect of EGCG3″Me on digestive enzymes. Although the inhibitory effect of EGCG3″Me on a‐amylase and lipase was better than EGCG3″Me‐phospholipids complex (EPC), EPC exhibited better stability and permeability. For good bioavailability, tea polyphenols should have a balance between hydrophilicity and lipophilicity, and the complex we prepared may be used for manufacturing functional foods that support improved tea polyphenols absorption.