title: The effects of protein malnutrition on the course of Leishmania mexicana infection in C57Bl/6 mice: nutrition and susceptibility to leishmaniasis.
abstract: The course of cutaneous infection with Leishmania mexicana was studied in normally nourished and protein deprived C57Bl/6 mice. Mice fed a normal diet showed self-resolving lesions and produced cellular and humoral responses against the parasite. In contrast, mice fed a protein deficient diet which developed chronic protein calorie deficiency failed to recover from L. mexicana infection. Non-healing protein deprived mice had depressed delayed hypersensitivity response (DHR) and in vitro lymphocyte reactivity to leishmanial antigen. Responses to PHA and Con A were also suppressed. The possible interaction between malnutrition, impairment of the immune response and chronicity of cutaneous leishmaniasis is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D005260:Female; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011488:Protein Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins