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Objective: To examine the expression profile and immunofluorescence localization of the major egg antigen p40 of Schistosoma japonicum (Sjp40) during granuloma formation in the liver of infected New Zealand white rabbits., Methods: New Zealand white rabbits were infected with S. japonicum cercariae, and the livers were harvested at 29 and 45 days post-infection (dpi). The total RNA of the liver tissues was extracted for expression profiling of Sjp40 by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) with GAPDH of S. japonicum as the endogenous reference gene. The expression of Sjp40 in the liver were detected by Western blotting using anti-Sjp40 monoclonal antibody (mAb) 9G7 or anti-Toxoplasma gondii tSAG1 mAb Y3A8 (control) as the primary antibody. Paraffin sections of the liver were prepared for observing egg granuloma formation using HE staining and for indirect immunofluorescence assay of Sjp40 location in the trapped eggs and egg granulomas., Results: The level of Sjp40 mRNA in the eggs trapped in rabbit livers was significantly higher at 45 dpi than that at 29 dpi (P<0.05), and Western blotting confirmed the presence of Sjp40 protein in the rabbit livers at both 29 and 45 dpi. Immunofluorescence assay demonstrated localized expression of Sjp40 in the immature eggs in the rabbit liver at 29 dpi, but at 45 dpi fluorescence was detected in clusters of mature eggs containing miracidium and in the surrounding egg granulomas., Conclusions: The transcriptional levels of Sjp40 significantly increased with the maturation of eggs trapped in the rabbit livers. Sjp40 protein spread from the eggs to the surrounding egg granuloma at 45 dpi when acute liver granulomatous lesions occur, suggesting that Sjp40 plays a key role in egg granulomas formation in the livers of infected New Zealand white rabbits.

Objective: To develop a hydroponic Nicotiana cultivation system for rapid and high-yield transient expression of recombinant proteins under laboratory conditions., Methods: To establish the hydroponic cultivation system, several parameters were examined to define the optimal conditions for the expression of recombinant proteins in plants. We used the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and the geminiviral plant transient expression vector as the model protein/expression vector. We examined the impact of Nicotiana species, the density and time of Agrobacterium infiltration, and the post-infiltration growth period on the accumulation of GFP. The expression levels of GFP in Nicotiana leaves were then examined by Western blotting and ELISA., Results: Our data indicated that a hydroponic Nicotiana cultivation system with a light intensity of 9000 LX/layer, a light cycle of 16 h day/8 h night, a temperature regime of 28 degrees celsius; day/21 degrees celsius; night, and a relative humidity of 80% could support the optimal plant growth and protein expression. After agroinfiltration with pBYGFPDsRed.R/LBA4404, high levels of GFP expression were observed in both N. benthamiana and N. tobaccum (cv. Yuyan No.5) plants cultured with this hydroponic cultivation system. An optimal GFP expression was achieved in both Nicotiana species leaves 4 days after infiltration by Agrobacterium with an OD(600) of 0.8. At a given time point, the average biomass of N. tobaccum (cv. Yuyan No.5) was significantly higher than that of N. benthamiana. The leaves from 6-week-old N. benthamiana plants and 5-week-old N. tobaccum (cv. Yuyan No.5) plants could be the optimal material for agroinfiltration., Conclusion: We have established a hydroponic cultivation system that allows robust growth of N. benthamiana and N. tobaccum (cv. Yuyan No.5) plants and the optimal GFP expression in the artificial climate box.

Objective: To study the effect of RNA interference (RNAi) on small heat shock protein (sHSP) Sjp40 of Schistosoma japonicum and its synergistic effect on the expression of SjHSP60, SjHSP70, and SjHSP90 mRNA, and observe the mRNA expression levels of Sjp40, SjHSP60, SjHSP70, and SjHSP90 in different stages of S.japonicum., Methods: Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) of Sjp40 (dsSjp40) and a control dsRNA of green fluorescent protein (dsGFP) were generated by in vitro transcription and transfected into adult worm by immersing the worm in dsRNA solution. The total RNA and proteins were isolated simultaneously from the adult worms using TRIzol reagent 7 days after transfection. The expression levels of Sjp40, SjHSP60, SjHSP70, and SjHSP90 mRNA and the expression level of Sjp40 protein were determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and Western blotting, respectively. The mRNA expression of HSPs of S. japonicum in different stages was evaluated by qPCR., Results: Compared with those in the control worms transfected with dsGFP, Sjp40 mRNA level was decreased by 80% in the worms transfected with dsSjp40, and the level of Sjp40 protein showed also a significant decrease. The mRNA expression levels of SjHSP60, SjHSP70, and SjHSP90 did not show an obvious synergism after Sjp40 RNAi. The expression profiles of Sjp40, SjHSP60, SjHSP70, and SjHSP90 showed significant differences in different stages of S. japonicum, and the expression level of Sjp40 mRNA in the egg stage was much higher than that of other HSP genes., Conclusion: dsSjp40-RNAi can induce effective suppression of Sjp40 gene expression at both mRNA and protein levels, but no obvious synergism occurs in the mRNA expressions of SjHSP60, SjHSP70, and SjHSP90.