Immune response to vaccination

Zinc about it - zinc and calf immunity

Micronutrients, such as vitamins and trace minerals, are critical for supporting growth, performance, health and maintaining redox balance. Zinc (Zn), an essential micronutrient, aids the functioning of innate and adaptive immune cells. This scoping review aims to assemble and evaluate the evidence available for the role of Zn within calf immunity. Relevant literature was identified within Web of Science, PubMed, and CABI using search terms specific to the major innate and adaptive immune cell populations. There was no evidence that Zn supplementation altered neutrophil, natural killer cell, or T-cell functions. However, there was limited evidence to support Zn supplementation with reduced monocyte numbers, but there was no evidence to associate the monocytopenia with improvements in monocyte function. There is moderate evidence to suggest that Zn supplementation was beneficial for maintaining epithelial barriers of integumental and mucosal surfaces. The evidence supports supplementation above the current industry recommendations for improving immunoglobulin (Ig) production, with the strongest results being observed for IgG and IgM. Moreover, Zn supplementation was associated with reduced proinflammatory cytokine production, which may reduce inflammation-associated hypophagia and warrants further investigation. Furthermore, Zn reduced the duration of clinical signs in animals facing respiratory disease and diarrhea. However, consensus is needed about the optimal dose, route, and Zn formulation most appropriate for supporting immunity. In conclusion, while the literature supports that Zn could enhance calf immunity, there is insufficient evidence to adequately determine the extent to which Zn impacts innate immune cell and T-cell functions. Determination of the immune cell functions susceptible to modification by Zn supplementation is an important knowledge gap for enhancing the understanding of Zn and calf immunity.

Experimental vaccines in animal models for schistosomiasis

Considerable morbidity and mortality results from the affliction of an estimated 200 million people worldwide by several species of schistosomes; 779 million are exposed to the disease in 74 different countries. Even though anti-parasitic drugs and other control measures, including public hygiene and snail control are available, the advent of an effective vaccine still remains the most potentially powerful means for the control of this disease. The putative vaccine could be administered to small children prior to the time when their contact with infected water is maximal, so as to prevent severe infection in the subsequent years. This review attempts to summarize the status of schistosome vaccine development with special emphasis on functionally important vaccine candidates. The importance of utilizing both murine and nonhuman primate models as a prerequisite for clinical trials is discussed.

Induction of protective immunity against Schistosoma mansoni via DNA priming and boosting with the large subunit of calpain (Sm-p80): adjuvant effects of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin-4

Considerable morbidity and mortality result from schistosomiasis, an affliction affecting an estimated 200 million people. Although schistosomicidal drugs and other control measures (including public hygiene and snail control) exist, the advent of an efficacious vaccine remains the most potentially powerful means for controlling this disease. We have targeted a vaccine candidate (large subunit of calpain, Sm-p80) because of its consistent immunogenicity, protective potential, and integral role in surface membrane biogenesis of schistosomes. Since surface membrane renewal appears to be one of the major phenomena employed by schistosomes to evade the host's immune system; an immune response directed against Sm-p80 should render the parasite susceptible to immune clearance from the host by both providing a focus of attack and by potentially impairing the membrane repair process. In the present study, we have employed DNA immunization protocols using Sm-p80 with plasmids encoding granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-4 (IL-4). Sm-p80 by itself provided 39% protection (P = < or =0.0001) against challenge infection in C57BL/6 mice. This protection was increased to 44% (P = < or =0.0001) when the plasmid encoding GM-CSF was coadministered with Sm-p80 DNA. Coinjection of plasmid DNA encoding IL-4 with Sm-p80 DNA yielded a protection level of 42% (P = < or =0.0001). Statistically, the protection conferred by including GM-CSF, but not IL-4, was significantly greater than that when only Sm-p80 was used. Sm-p80 DNA by itself elicited strong responses that include IgG2A and IgG2B antibody isotypes. The introduction of GM-CSF DNA with Sm-p80 DNA led to distinct increases in total IgG and IgG1 titers, whereas the coadministration of IL-4 DNA with Sm-p80 DNA resulted in a slight elevation of IgG1 and IgG3 titers and in some reduction of IgG2A and IgG2B titers. Our data again indicate that Sm-p80 can be an excellent candidate for a schistosomiasis vaccine.