Evaluation of Immunogenicity of Cocktail DNA Vaccine Containing Plasmids Encoding Complete GRA5, SAG1, and ROP2 Antigens of Toxoplasma gondii in BALB/C Mice

BACKGROUND: Severe and fatal complications of toxoplasmosis urge development of effective vaccines against the disease. The current study was performed to evaluate cocktail DNA vaccine containing plasmids encoding GRA5, SAG1, and ROP2 genes of Toxoplasma gondii in BALB/c mice in Tarbiat Modares University in 2012. METHODS: The plasmids containing complete GRA5, SAG1, and ROP2 genes were mass extracted and then the recombinant plasmids were administered via intramuscular injections according to immunized mice three times with three-week intervals. Then splenocytes were cultured, and proliferation as well as cytokine assays were carried out. The other mice in each group were inoculated by the parasite and mortality of the mice was evaluated on a daily basis. RESULTS: The results of cytokine assay for INF-γ were higher in the mice that received the cocktail DNA containing recombinant plasmids. Evaluation of proliferation of splenocytes using the MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay indicated induction of cellular response. Measurement of total IgG and the isotypes of IgG1 and IgG2a showed that the cocktail DNA stimulated IgG and IgG2a production in comparison with the control groups (P<0.05). Furthermore, the survival rate of mice in the groups that received the cocktail DNA was significantly higher than that in the control groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Administration of the cocktail DNA vaccine led to production of higher levels of IFN-γ, confirmed by secretion of IgG2a, and the immune response was shifted toward Th1. Thus, the cocktail DNA containing the recombinant plasmids can be an appropriate candidate for immunization against toxoplasmosis.