Experimental immunization against cutaneous leishmaniasis using Leishmania major subcellular fractions alone or in combination with Phlebotomus duboscqi gut antigens.
Leishmania major-derived flagella and nuclear fractions, and a combination of flagella and sand fly gut antigens were assessed for protection against L. major infection in BALB/c mice. Mice immunized with flagella antigen developed a severe infection while nuclear fraction-immunized animals were partially protected at the onset of infection from week 1 to 4 post challenge. A combination/cock tail of flagella and sand fly gut antigens protected animals at a later stage from week 10 to 14 post-infection. Surviving cocktail-immunized animals did not ulcerate, and parasites did not metastasize to the viscera. These results provide preliminary evidence of the potential of a cock tail antigen derived from Leishmania flagella and sand fly gut in the protection against cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. major.
Mbati
P A
PA
Biomedical Sciences Research Centre, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya.
Anjili
C O
CO
Lugalia
R
R
Mwanyumba
P
P
Tonui
W K
WK
Robert
L L
LL
Githure
J I
JI
D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000276:immunology; D005407:Flagella / Q000276:immunology; D007114:Immunization; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000276:immunology*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010691:Phlebotomus / Q000276:immunology*; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000276:immunology
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan