Synthetic parasites: a successful mucosal nanoparticle vaccine against Toxoplasma congenital infection in mice.

AIM: Development of protein vaccine to prevent congenital infection is a major public health priority. Our goal is the design of mucosal synthetic pathogen inducing protective immune responses against congenital toxoplasmosis.

MATERIALS &

METHODS

Mice were immunized intranasally, establishing pregnancy and challenging orally. Placental immune response, congenital infection, pup growth, parasitic load rates were studied.

RESULTS

Pups born to vaccinated infected dams had significantly fewer brain cysts, no intraocular inflammation and normal growth. Protection was associated with a placental cellular Th1 response downregulated by IL-6 and correlated with persistence of vaccine for few hours in the nose before being totally eliminated.

CONCLUSION

Our vaccine conferred high protection against congenital toxoplasmosis. These results provide support for future studies of other congenital vaccine.