Calcium-dependent protein kinases are potential targets forToxoplasma gondiivaccine

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii belongs to the Apicomplexa phylum that caused a widespread zoonotic infection in wide range of intermediate hosts. Over one-third of the world's population are latently infected with T. gondii and carry it. The complex life cycle of T. gondii indicates the presence of a plurality of antigenic epitopes. During the recent years, continuous efforts of scientists have made precious advances to elucidate the different aspects of the cell and molecular biology of T. gondii. Despite of great progresses, the development of vaccine candidates for preventing of T. gondii infection in men and animals is still remains a challenge. The calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) belongs to the superfamily of kinases, which restricted to the apicomplexans, ciliates, and plants. It has been documented that they contribute several functions in the life cycle of T. gondii such as gliding motility, cell invasion, and egress as well as some other critical developmental processes. In current paper, we reviewed the recent progress concerning the development of CDPK-based vaccines against acute and chronic T. gondii.

Epitope-based vaccine as a universal vaccination strategy against Toxoplasma gondii infection: A mini-review

“…The development of potential vaccine against T. gondii has significantly progressed in the last few years. Numerous experimental studies of preventive immunization have explored various forms of T. gondii antigens including live-attenuated vaccines, subunit vaccines, recombinant vaccine, and DNA vaccines [13]. Accordingly, significant strides have been conducted in antigen isolation and characterization, gene cloning, and immunological techniques.…”

“…Intensive efforts and significant advances toward acquiring an effective vaccine are under way to control infection and limit the incidence of the disease; however, no vaccine has, thus, far been available for use in humans [11][12][13]. Currently, the live attenuated tachyzoites of the strain S48 (commercially named "Toxovax") is the only approved vaccine for veterinary use.…”

Rhomboid antigens are promising targets in the vaccine development against Toxoplasma gondii

“…Accordingly, the development of an effective vaccine has high priority for investigators to limit the infection in animals and humans. During the three past decades, non-stop efforts of researchers have made great achievements in the identification and development of T. gondii candidate vaccines mainly on rhoptry proteins (ROPs), surface antigens (SAGs), microneme proteins (MICs), dense granule antigens (GRAs), calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs), and some other antigens (Foroutan and Ghaffarifar, 2018[ 15 ]; Foroutan et al, 2018[ 18 ], 2019[ 16 ]; Kur et al, 2009[ 30 ]; Zhang et al, 2015[ 50 ]).…”

“…In the past several years, the different vaccine types with various strategies have been developed experimentally throughout the globe that ranged from killed vaccines, live or attenuated vaccines, recombinant subunit proteins, live vectors to DNA vaccines or multiepitope-based vaccines (Foroutan and Ghaffarifar, 2018[ 15 ]; Foroutan et al, 2019[ 16 ]; Ghaffarifar, 2015[ 21 ], 2018[ 20 ]; Kur et al, 2009[ 30 ]; Zhang et al, 2015[ 50 ]). These vaccines with various vaccination routes in different mouse models have verified partial protection and reduction of brain cysts burden after challenge with avirulent and/or virulent Toxoplasma strains (Foroutan and Ghaffarifar, 2018[ 15 ]; Foroutan et al, 2018[ 18 ]; Han et al, 2017[ 24 ]; Kur et al, 2009[ 30 ]; Li et al, 2012[ 32 ]; Zhang et al, 2015[ 50 ]; Zhang et al, 2015[ 51 ]). However, currently there is a lack of an approved commercial vaccine for human use (Zhang et al, 2015[ 50 ]).…”

Cellular immunopathogenesis in primary Toxoplasma gondii infection during pregnancy

“…Toxoplasma gondii ( T. gondii ) is an intracellular parasite and the aetiologic agent of toxoplasmosis . Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common zoonotic parasitic diseases worldwide . T. gondii infection can be congenitally or postnatally acquired.…”