AUTHOR=Yang Yong , Bai Xue , Li Chengyao , Tong Mingwei , Zhang Peihao , Cai Wei , Liu Xiaolei , Liu Mingyuan 

TITLE=Molecular Characterization of Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate Aldolase From Trichinella spiralis and Its Potential in Inducing Immune Protection

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2019.00122

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2019.00122

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Trichinella spiralis</italic> is a major food-borne parasite worldwide. Trichinellosis caused by <italic>T. spiralis</italic> is not only a public health problem, but also an economic hazard in food safety. The development of effective vaccines to prevent <italic>Trichinella</italic> infection in domestic animals and humans is urgently needed for controlling of this zoonosis. Fructose-1, 6-bisphosphate aldolase (FBPA) is involved in energy production in glycolysis and is also associated with many non-glycolysis functions in the parasite, such as adhesion to host cells, plasminogen binding, and invasion. FBPA has been considered as a potential vaccine candidate or as a target for chemotherapeutic treatment. Here, we report for the first time the characterization of FBPA of <italic>T. spiralis</italic> and an evaluation of its potential as a vaccine candidate antigen against <italic>T. spiralis</italic> infection in mice. The results of qPCR and western blot analysis showed that the <italic>Ts</italic>-FBPA gene was expressed at various developmental stages of <italic>T. spiralis</italic> and was also detected in excretory–secretory products (ES) of <italic>T. spiralis</italic> muscle larvae (ML). Immunostaining with anti-<italic>Ts</italic>-FBPA mouse sera indicated that it localized principally to the surface and embryos of this parasitic nematode. Vaccination of mice with recombinant <italic>Ts</italic>-FBPA (r<italic>Ts</italic>-FBPA) resulted in a Th1/Th2 mixed humoral and cellular immune response with Th2 predominant, as well as remarkably elevated IgE levels. Moreover, mice vaccinated with r<italic>Ts</italic>-FBPA displayed a 48.7% reduction in adult worm burden and 52.5% reduction in muscle larval burden. These studies indicated that <italic>Ts</italic>-FBPA is a promising target for developing an effective vaccine to prevent and control <italic>Trichinella</italic> infection.</p>