Leishmania transmission-blocking vaccines: a review.
OBJECTIVE
To review information on transmission-blocking vaccine against Leishmania infections.


METHODS
Peer-reviewed journals and accepted manuscripts in press.


METHODS
Laboratory studies based on raising of immune sera against Leishmania-derived antigens using the BALB/c and hamster murine models. Testing of the immune sera for their potential to limit the transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis in its natural vector Phlebotomus duboscqi.


RESULTS
Leishmania major-derived recombinant 63 kilodalton glycoprotein (rgp63), lipophosphoglycan (LPG), whole parasite, flagella and nuclear fractions; monoclonal antibodies and sandfly gut antigens have all been tested for their candidacy as Leishmania-transmission blocking vaccines.


CONCLUSIONS
Liposphoglycan proved to be a promising candidate for Leishmania transmission-blocking vaccine studies.
Tonui
W K
WK
Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi.
D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D006224:Cricetinae; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007891:Leishmania / Q000276:immunology; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000517:prevention & control; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D014612:Vaccines
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D014612:Vaccines