Intranasal immunization with recombinant Ascaris suum 14-kilodalton antigen coupled with cholera toxin B subunit induces protective immunity to A-suum infection in mice

Animals can be rendered immune to Ascaris parasites by immunization with in fectious-stage larvae. The specific parasite gene products that mediate pro tective responses in ascariasis are unknown. We have identified a cDNA enco ding Ascaris suum 14-kDa antigen (As14) and evaluated the vaccinal effect o f the Escherichia coli-expressed recombinant protein (rAs14). GenBank analy sis showed that As14 has low similarity at the amino acid level to a Caenor habditis elegans gene product and to antigens of the filarial nematodes but not to other known proteins. In addition, As14 homologues were found to be expressed in human and dog roundworms. In mice that received intranasal ad ministration of rAs14 coupled with cholera toxin B subunit (rAs14-CTB), the re was a 64% reduction of recovery of larvae compared with that in the nont reated group. The vaccinated mice showed a significant increase in the tota l serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels and the mucosal IgA responses. Elevat ion of the rAs14-specific IgE response was also seen. Measurement of the Ig G subclasses showed a higher level of IgG1 and a lower level of IgG2a antib ody response in the sera of the immunized mice, suggesting that protection was associated with a type II immune response. As14 is the first protective antigen against A. strum infection to be identified. Our immunization tria l results in laboratory animals suggest the possibility of developing a muc osal vaccine for parasitic diseases caused by ascarid nematodes.