title: T cell responses to crude and defined leishmanial antigens in patients from the lower Amazon region of Brazil infected with different species of Leishmania of the subgenera Leishmania and Viannia.
abstract: Amazonian localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) is caused by parasites of the subgenera Leishmania and Viannia. Respectively, these parasites may cause diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis (DCL) and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL). This, together with differing skin test responses, suggests some species-specificity in cell mediated immunity. In this study, T cell responses (proliferative and interferon-gamma) to crude and defined antigens were examined in paired samples pre and post chemotherapy. Untreated L. (L.) amazonensis LCL patients showed lower responses to crude leishmanial antigens than the L. (V.) spp. group. L. (V.) braziliensis antigen was a more potent stimulator of T cell responses than L. (L.) amazonensis antigen in all patient groups. Few positive responses were seen to the L. (L.) amazonensis glycoprotein GP46. A substantial proportion of LCL patients did respond to the L. (L.) pifanoi amastigote antigens A2, and the surface membrane glycoprotein P8. DCL patients were poor responders to all leishmanial antigens, except GP46. In contrast, MCL patients were good responders to all antigens except GP46 and A2. A significant rise in the response to P8 and A2 antigen was seen post treatment across all LCL and MCL patients, indicating that these antigens might provide suitable vaccine candidates.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Evandro Chagas (FNS), Belém, Pará, Brazil.
authors.forename: F T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Blackwell
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Quinnell
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Soong
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kima
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McMahon-Pratt
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Shaw
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002455:Cell Division; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007891:Leishmania / Q000276:immunology*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines; D008536:Meglumine; D000077485:Meglumine Antimoniate; D007371:Interferon-gamma