Toll样受体只有与其配体结合后，才能启动先天免疫反应和获得性免疫反应。研究表明，鸡球虫感染引起鸡Toll样受体（chTLR）的变化，然而，鸡球虫ChTLR配体分子尚不明确。鸡球虫TLRs配体分子有哪些？能否有效激活先天免疫反应？激活的途径是什么？能否诱导获得性免疫反应？为阐明上述问题，本研究拟采用蛋白互作技术鉴定鸡球虫chTLR配体分子，检测配体对鸡巨噬细胞和树突状细胞（DC）功能的影响，同时用RNA干扰技术确定识别鸡基因组DNA的chTLR。用免疫印迹和RNA干扰技术确定chTLR配体分子激活先天免疫细胞的信号通路。然后检测chTLR配体致敏的DC对T细胞功能的影响。用chTLR配体免疫鸡，检测其诱导的获得性免疫反应，通过攻虫试验，检测其对鸡球虫感染的抵抗力。本项目对于阐明鸡球虫先天免疫机制，与宿主的互作机制和球虫病防控都是非常重要的。对其他寄生虫TLRs配体的发掘也有重要参考价值。

Toll-like receptors can initiate innate and acquired immune responses only when they bind to their ligands. It has been reported that infection by chicken coccidia causes changes in chicken Toll-like receptor (chTLR). However, the ligand molecule of chTLR in chicken coccidia remains unclear. What are the ligand molecules of TLRs in chicken coccidia? Can they effectively activate innate immune response? What are the signaling pathways in their activating innate immune responses? Can they induce acquired immune response? This project will be conducted to elucidate the above issues. In this project, chTLR ligand molecule in chicken coccidia will be identified by protein interaction technique. Function of chicken macrophages and dendritic cells (DC) will be detected after treatment with chTLR ligand. At the same time, RNA interference technique will be used to determine the chTLR binding chicken genomic DNA. The signal pathway of chTLR ligand molecule activating innate immune cells will be determined by immunoblotting and RNA interference. Then the effect of chTLR ligand sensitized DC on T cell function will be detected. Chickens will be immunized with chTLR ligand to detect the acquired immune response induced by chTLR ligand. The induced protective efficacy against chicken coccidiosis will be determined by challenge experiment. This project is very important to clarify the innate immune mechanism of chicken coccidia, the interaction mechanism with host and the prevention and control of chicken coccidiosis. It also has important reference value for the identification of TLRs ligands in other parasites.