Immune responses and resistance to Toxoplasma gondii in mice immunized with antigens of the parasite incorporated into immunostimulating complexes

Abstract

Immunostimulating complexes were prepared with antigens extracted from tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii and were used to immunize mice. The major antigens incorporated into the immunostimulating complexes were the P30 and P22 antigens and an antigen with an approximate molecular weight of 6,000. Other antigens of molecular weights above 30,000 were also present. High antibody titers to T. gondii antigens and a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction were noted for the immunized mice. Challenge of these mice with tachyzoites injected interperitoneally or with oocysts administered orally resulted in a statistically significant (P < 0.001) conditional probability of survival compared with that of controls. In contrast, the differences between immunized mice and controls challenged with tissue cysts did not attain statistical significance.