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The ZiYuan‐3 surveying satellite (ZY‐3), launched on 9th January 2012, is China's first civilian high‐resolution stereo mapping satellite. To ensure the mapping accuracy of ZY‐3, considerable research has been conducted since its launch on the calibration and validation of its three‐line array charge‐coupled device (CCD) sensors (TLC sensors). Its dynamic exterior systematic errors (such as camera installation errors) and static interior distortion were eliminated using 1:2000 digital orthophotomaps and digital elevation models (DEMs) of the Dengfeng (Henan) and Tianjin areas of China as control data. Various CCD alignment calibration models were compared, on the basis of their geometric accuracy after calibration, to determine the optimal model. Finally, validation experiments were performed using ZY‐3 TLC images and ground control points (GCPs) collected over Anping in Hebei Province, Zhaodong in Heilongjiang Province and the Taihang Mountain area in China. The positioning accuracy attained its theoretical value over the Anping and Zhaodong areas. Using GCPs whose image coordinates were obtained manually, the plan and height accuracy were found to be better than 3 m and 2 m, respectively.

The “self-cleaving” 2A sequence of picornavirus, which mediates ribosome-skipping events, enables the generation of two or more separate peptide products from one mRNA containing one or more “self-cleaving” 2A sequences. In this study, we introduced a single 2A sequence of porcine teschovirus-1 (P2A) linked to two fluorescent protein genes, the enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) gene and the red fluorescent protein (RFP) gene, in a single cassette into transgenic Eimeria tenella (EtER). As expected, we obtained two separated protein molecules rather than a fused protein, although the two molecules were translated from the same mRNA carrying a single “self-cleaving” 2A sequence. Importantly, RFP led by a secretion signal was secreted into parasitophorous vacuoles, while EYFP localized mainly to the nucleus of EtER. Our results demonstrate that the “self-cleaving” 2A sequence actively mediated cleavage of polyproteins in the apicomplexan parasite E. tenella.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13567-016-0351-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Vaccine delivery is critical in antigen discovery and vaccine efficacy and safety. The diversity of infectious diseases in humans and livestock has required the development of varied delivery vehicles to target different pathogens. In livestock animals, previous strategies for the development of coccidiosis vaccines have encountered several hurdles, limiting the development of multiple species vaccine formulations. Here, we describe a novel vaccine delivery system using transgenic Eimeria tenella expressing immunodominant antigens of Eimeria maxima. In this delivery system, the immune mapped protein 1 of E. maxima (EmIMP1) was delivered by the closely related species of E. tenella to the host immune system during the whole endogenous life cycle. The overexpression of the exogenous antigen did not interfere with the reproduction and immunogenicity of transgenic Eimeria. After immunization with the transgenic parasite, we detected EmIMP1’s and E. maxima oocyst antigens’ specific humoral and cellular immune responses. In particular, we observed partial protection of chickens immunized with transgenic E. tenella against subsequent E. maxima infections. Our results demonstrate that the transgenic Eimeria parasite is an ideal coccidia antigen delivery vehicle and represents a new type of coccidiosis vaccines. In addition, this model could potentially be used in the development of malaria live sporozoite vaccines, in which antigens from different strains can be expressed in the vaccine strain.

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