title: Characterization of protective immunity induced against Schistosoma mansoni via DNA priming with the large subunit of calpain (Sm-p80) in the presence of genetic adjuvants.
abstract: Despite advances in control via snail eradication and large-scale chemotherapy using praziquental, schistosomiasis continues to spread to new geographic areas particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Presently, there is no vaccine for controlling this disease. We have concentrated on a functionally important schistosome antigen Sm-p80 as a possible vaccine candidate for schistosomiasis. Here we report the proliferation of spleen cells in response to the recombinant Sm-p80 protein and cytokine (IFN-gamma and IL-4) production by the splenocytes. These spleen cells were obtained from groups of mice that were vaccinated with a DNA vaccine formulation containing Sm-p80 and one of the Th-1 (IL-2 or IL-12) or Th-2 (GM-CSF, IL-4) enhancer cytokines. The splenocytes from the groups of mice vaccinated with Sm-p80 DNA in the presence of Th-2 enhancer cytokines showed moderate but detectable proliferation. The splenocytes obtained from mice vaccinated with Sm-p80 DNA with Th-1 enhancer cytokines IL-2 and IL-12 provided the highest proliferation. The IFN-gamma production by splenocytes was found to follow the similar pattern [(Sm-p80) < (Sm-p80 + IL-4) < (Sm-p80 + GMCSF) < (Sm-p80 + IL-12) < (Sm-p80 + IL-2)], as has been observed for the proliferation and protection data. However, the elevated IL-4 production was inversely correlated to Sm-p80-induced splenocyte proliferation or the protection. These results show again that protective immune response induced by Sm-p80 is of Th-1 type.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, USA. Afzal.Siddiqui@ttuhsc.edu
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Pinkston
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Quinlin
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kavikondala
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Rewers-Felkins
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pompa
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002154:Calpain / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D007114:Immunization; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D021122:Protein Subunits; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000276:immunology*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016207:Cytokines; D021122:Protein Subunits; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D002154:Calpain