title: A heterologous prime-boost regime using DNA and recombinant vaccinia virus expressing the Leishmania infantum P36/LACK antigen protects BALB/c mice from cutaneous leishmaniasis.
abstract: A heterologous prime-boost vaccination with DNA vectors and vaccinia virus recombinants (VVr) has been shown to enhance specific cellular immune responses and to elicit significant protection against pathogens in animal models. In this study, we have analyzed, in the leishmaniasis cutaneous murine model, the effectiveness of this prime-boost strategy by immunizing with a DNA vector followed by boost with a VVr expressing the same Leishmania infantum P36/LACK antigen. After DNA priming and VVr boost, we challenged susceptible BALB/c mice with live L. major promastigotes, and examined the increase in footpad lesion size and parasite load in draining lymph nodes. Compared to controls, we observed reduction of up to 70% in lesion size and 1000-fold in parasite load. DNA prime-VVr boost before challenge elicited a Th1 type immune response in spleen cells from immunized animals. This DNA/VVr vaccination approach could be of utility in the prophylaxis against leishmaniasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma Campus de Cantoblanco, CSIC, 28049, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Rosa M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gonzalo
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: del Real
authors.forename: Juan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Ritva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Heljasvaara
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Larraga
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esteban
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003459:Crystallins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D007114:Immunization; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000276:immunology*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016660:NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone) / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology*; D014615:Vaccinia / Q000235:genetics; D038226:zeta-Crystallins
chemical_list: D003459:Crystallins; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic; D038226:zeta-Crystallins; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016660:NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone)