title: Prospect for an Entamoeba histolytica Gal-lectin-based vaccine.
abstract: Entamoeba histolytica is the aetiological agent of invasive amoebiasis, the third leading parasitic cause of mortality in the world. The disease can be easily cured by chemotherapy; however, prevention, mainly in the form of vaccination, could greatly decrease the incidence of the disease, and possibly help in its eradication. The parasite's surface galactose and N-acetyl-d-galactosamine-inhibitable adherence lectin (Gal-lectin) is highly antigenic and is the most promising subunit vaccine candidate. We have generated a Gal-lectin-based DNA vaccine and tested its immunogenicity in mice. Although further optimization will probably be required, this vaccine could help in the generation of an amoebiasis DNA vaccine for use in humans.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Parasitology of McGill University, Macdonald Campus, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gaucher
authors.forename: Kris
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chadee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005849:Gerbillinae; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D037102:Lectins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines; D019444:Vaccines, DNA