Objective To investigate the protective immunity against Echinococcus granulosus in mice immunized with rEg14-3-3.Methods ICR mice were subcutaneously immunized three times with rEg14-3-3,followed by the challenge with Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces intraperitoneally and then sacrificed after six months of post-challenge to detect the proliferation of splenocytes by MTT assay,and to measure the secretion of IL-2,IL-4,IL-10,and IFN-γ by ELISA.The rate of reduced hydatid cyst and the levels of IgE,IgG and IgG subclasses in sera were examined.Results Mice vaccinated with rEg14-3-3 and challenged with protoscoleces revealed significant protective immunity of 84.47%.ELISA analysis indicated that the immunized mice generated specific high levels of IgG and the prevailing isotypes of IgG were IgG1 and IgG2a.Splenocytes from mice immunized with rEg14-3-3 showed a significant proliferation response.The secretion of IFN-γ and IL-2 increased significantly in the vaccinated mice whereas there was no significant difference in IL-4 and IL-10 levels between vaccinated and control mice.Conclusion The results indicate that the rEg14-3-3 vaccine could induce a high level of protective immunity as a promising vaccine candidate to prevent cystic echinococcosis.
