Smith, N.C., Wallach, M., Miller, C.M., Braun, R., and Eckert, J. (1994) Maternal transmission of immunity to Eimeria maxima: western blot analysis of protective antibodies induced by infection. Infection and Immunity, 62 (11). pp. 4811-4817.

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Abstract

Infection of breeding hens with Eimeria maxima induces production of parasite-specific antibodies which are transferred, via the egg yolk, to hatchling chicks. These antibodies (immunoglobulin G) are highly protective, mediating up to a 97% reduction in oocyst excretion in challenged hatchlings. However, the degree of maternally derived immunity transferred by the hens to their offspring declines with increasing time after infection of the hens. This decline in immunity is directly related to declining immunoglobulin G titers. However, sera from highly protected hatchlings recognize only a very few E. maxima proteins on Western blots (immunoblots). In particular, a 230-kDa protein band is outstanding for its association with maternally derived immunity to E. maxima in hatchlings. This band was excised from a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) preparative gel of crude merozoite protein extract. The SDS-PAGE cutout was emulsified in Freund's adjuvant and injected, intramuscularly, into six breeding hens on two occasions, 2 weeks apart. Eggs were collected from these hens 28 to 39 days after the second injection, and the hatchlings from these eggs were challenged with 150 sporulated oocysts of E. maxima. Subsequent oocyst excretion in these hatchlings was, on average, 54% lower than oocyst excretion by control chicks but only 37% lower (significant at P < 0.05) than that by chicks from hens sham immunized with Freund's adjuvant. The latter result is apparently due to the ability of the adjuvant to induce production of antibodies which recognize Eimeria spp. and thereby transfer some degree of protection to hatchlings. These experiments indicate that protective, maternally derived immunoglobulin G antibodies may be useful for the identification of putative anticoccidial vaccine candidates.

Item ID:	34619
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1098-5522
Keywords:	Eimeria maxima; maternal immunity; western blot; protective antibodies
Funders:	Bundesamt für Bildung und Wissenschaft, Bern, Roche Foundation, Swiss National Science Foundation
Projects and Grants:	Bundesamt für Bildung und Wissenschaft (Coccidiosis, COST 89), Swiss National Science Foundation ( 31-33757.92 and 31-35656.92)
Date Deposited:	26 Aug 2014 06:38
FoR Codes:	07 AGRICULTURAL AND VETERINARY SCIENCES > 0707 Veterinary Sciences > 070708 Veterinary Parasitology @ 70% 06 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 0601 Biochemistry and Cell Biology > 060199 Biochemistry and Cell Biology not elsewhere classified @ 30%
SEO Codes:	97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970107 Expanding Knowledge in the Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences @ 70% 97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970106 Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences @ 30%
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