Purified PTP1 protein induce antigen specific protective immunity against E. cuniculi

• Published in: Microbes and infection 2010-03, Vol.12 (7), p.574-579
• Main Authors: Moretto, Magali M., Lawlor, Elizabeth M., Xu, Yanji, Khan, Imtiaz A., Weiss, Louis M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1286-4579; 1769-714X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2010.03.008

Microsporidiosis poses a problem for immunocompromised individuals including patients with HIV infection as well as those with organ transplantation. Recent reports from Africa have suggested that microsporidiosis with diarrhea is an i n dependent risk factor for malnutrition in children. Previous studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that CD8 + T cells are an essential component of protective immunity against the microsporidium Encephalitozoon cuniculi. Mutant mice lacking this T cell subset or cytotoxic function are unable to clear the infection and ultimately succumb to the disease. However, information regarding the antigens involved in the elicitation of CD8 + T cell response is not available. In this study, we report that immunization of animals with Encephalitozoon hellem polar tube protein 1 (rEhPTP1) induces a strong T cell response in vaccinated animals. Splenic dendritic cells pulsed with rEhPTP1 are able to induce E. cuniculi specific CD8 + T cell response with no effect on the CD4 + T cell subset. This is the first report identifying a protein capable of inducing CD8 + T cell immunity, which is conserved in other microsporidial species of human importance.