A novel glutathione peroxidase (EnGPX) from Eimeria necatrix contributes to oocyst wall biogenesis and confers protective immunity in chickens

IF 2.2 2区农林科学 Q2 PARASITOLOGY

Veterinary parasitology Pub Date : 2025-08-28 DOI:10.1016/j.vetpar.2025.110588

Feiyan Wang , Yuemei Peng , Zhuang Ye , Yongcui Feng , Yu Zhang , Jinjun Xu , Jianping Tao , Dandan Liu

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Coccidiosis, caused by Eimeria spp., represents a major threat to poultry health and global food security. The oocyst wall, a crucial structure for parasite survival and transmission, is assembled through redox-dependent protein cross-linking. While glutathione peroxidases (GPXs)-mediated redox reactions play a role in oocyst wall formation, studies on GPX in Eimeria necatrix are limited. In this study, we identified and characterized a novel glutathione peroxidase (EnGPX) from E. necatrix. Bioinformatic analysis showed that EnGPX belongs to the Cys-dependent GPX (Cys-GPX) and contains a noncanonical CxxT motif within a conserved thioredoxin domain. Recombinant protein (rEnGPX) was successfully expressed, purified, and recognized by sera from Eimeria-infected chickens. Immunofluorescence localization revealed that EnGPX is specifically expressed in type II wall-forming bodies (WFBII) and incorporated into the oocyst wall. Transcriptional profiling showed peak EnGPX expression in unsporulated oocysts. Immunization of chickens with rEnGPX induced robust humoral responses and provided significant protection against E. necatrix challenge, as evidenced by reduced lesion scores, oocyst shedding, and sporulation rates. The highest dose group achieved a moderate anticoccidial index (ACI = 161.81) and a 54.85 % reduction in oocyst output, though these preliminary results require further validation through repeated experiments. Overall, our findings position EnGPX as a redox-active enzyme essential for oocyst wall biogenesis and suggest its potential as a novel subunit vaccine candidate for avian coccidiosis control.

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一种新型谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（EnGPX）可促进鸡卵囊壁的生物形成并具有保护性免疫作用

球虫病是由艾美耳球虫引起的，对家禽健康和全球粮食安全构成重大威胁。卵囊壁是寄生虫生存和传播的关键结构，通过氧化还原依赖性蛋白交联组装。虽然谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GPX）介导的氧化还原反应在卵囊壁形成中起作用，但GPX在卵母艾美耳球虫中的研究有限。在这项研究中，我们鉴定和表征了一种新的谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（EnGPX）。生物信息学分析表明，EnGPX属于cys依赖性GPX (Cys-GPX)，在保守的硫氧还蛋白结构域中含有一个非规范的CxxT基序。重组蛋白（rEnGPX）成功表达、纯化并被艾美耳虫感染鸡血清识别。免疫荧光定位显示，EnGPX在II型壁形成体（WFBII）中特异性表达，并进入卵囊壁。转录谱显示EnGPX在无孢子卵囊中表达高峰。经rEnGPX免疫的鸡产生了强大的体液反应，并提供了显著的保护，免受necatrix的攻击，这可以通过降低病变评分、卵囊脱落和产孢率来证明。最高剂量组抗球虫指数中等（ACI = 161.81），卵囊排出量减少54.85 %，但这些初步结果需要通过重复实验进一步验证。总的来说，我们的研究结果表明，EnGPX是卵囊壁生物发生所必需的一种氧化还活性酶，并表明它有可能作为一种新型亚单位疫苗候选物用于禽球虫病的控制。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Veterinary parasitology 农林科学-寄生虫学

CiteScore

5.30

自引率

7.70%

发文量

126

审稿时长

36 days

期刊介绍： The journal Veterinary Parasitology has an open access mirror journal,Veterinary Parasitology: X, sharing the same aims and scope, editorial team, submission system and rigorous peer review. This journal is concerned with those aspects of helminthology, protozoology and entomology which are of interest to animal health investigators, veterinary practitioners and others with a special interest in parasitology. Papers of the highest quality dealing with all aspects of disease prevention, pathology, treatment, epidemiology, and control of parasites in all domesticated animals, fall within the scope of the journal. Papers of geographically limited (local) interest which are not of interest to an international audience will not be accepted. Authors who submit papers based on local data will need to indicate why their paper is relevant to a broader readership. Parasitological studies on laboratory animals fall within the scope of the journal only if they provide a reasonably close model of a disease of domestic animals. Additionally the journal will consider papers relating to wildlife species where they may act as disease reservoirs to domestic animals, or as a zoonotic reservoir. Case studies considered to be unique or of specific interest to the journal, will also be considered on occasions at the Editors'' discretion. Papers dealing exclusively with the taxonomy of parasites do not fall within the scope of the journal.