Abstract

This study was conducted for the period from January 2022 until the end of December 2022 at Samarra University / Graduate Studies Laboratory of the College of Applied Sciences, Methods: 50 New Zealand white rabbits with weight ranged from (1500-1800) gm obtained from the National Center for Drug Control and Research in Baghdad, while their ages ranged from (10-14) months.The present study included the effect of Outer Membrane Proteins (OMPs) or (O-Antigen) extracted from Escherichia coli on the immune response in male rabbits infected with G. lamblia parasite, by measuring the levels of cytokines (IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10). Results: The cytokines under study, its level increased in the serum of laboratory rabbits, and our study showed that the level of IL-4 for the O-antigen group increased significantly compared with the negative control group, where its average of concentration was (12.35 and 8.71) pg/ml, respectively. An increase in the level of IL-4 occurred in Challenge group, compared to the positive control, where its average of concentration reached (14.11 and 10.98) pg/ml, respectively. The results of the current study indicated that the level of IL-6 of the O-antigen group increased significantly compared with the negative control group, where its average of concentration was (5.24 and 3.37) pg/ml, respectively, and also the level of IL-6 in Challenge group, it increased non-significantly when compared with the positive control, where its average of concentration was (6.11 and 5.82) pg/ml, respectively. As for IL-10, there was a significant increase in its level in the O-antigen group compared with the negative control group, where average of concentration was (17.17 and 10.41) pg/ml respectively, and the IL-10 levels of Challenge group increased, and it was noted that the IL-10 level increased more than previous compared with the positive control to reach (21.84 and 14.79) pg/ml respectively. Discussion: Immunization of laboratory rabbits with outer membrane proteins purified from E. coli had a clear effect on the levels of under study cytokines, and this led to a reduction in the effect of infection with Giardia lamblia. Conclusions: Elevation of interleukins concentration under study after immunization with O-antigen. The outer membrane proteins extracted from E. coli and at under study concentrations can be considered as non-specific immunomodulators and non-toxic compounds at the specified concentrations and as stimulators of the immune system against infection with the G. lamblia parasite in white laboratory rabbits

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