Protective immunity induced by a DNA vaccine expressing eIF4A of Toxoplasma gondii against acute toxoplasmosis in mice

► Vaccination with T. gondii eIF4A elicited specific humoral and lymphocyte proliferative responses. ► Significant production of IFN-γ and IL-2, and a mixed IgG1/IgG2a response were observed. ► Immunization with pVAX-eIF4A significantly prolonged survival time (23.0 ± 5.5 days) of mice. ► T. gondii eIF4A is a promising vaccine candidate against T. gondii infection.