Vaccinations with live-attenuated Leishmania major promastigotes and challenge infection with L. major in BALB/c mice.
BACKGROUND
Currently there is no vaccine available in use against any form of leishmaniases worldwide.


OBJECTIVE
To assess potential of a live-attenuated Leishmania major promastigates, for protection against a challenge infection with L. major in BALB/c mice.


METHODS
A laboratory based study.


METHODS
Study was carried out at Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi.


RESULTS
The greatest protection against challenge with L. major was seen in mice immunised with live parasites (P < 0.001) compared to vaccinations with heat killed or soluble antigens. In general, immunised mice produced high level of antileishmanial antibodies and T cell stimulation to their respective antigens.


CONCLUSIONS
Our live-attenuated parasites produced by serial sub-culture of L. major parasites 118 times showed the capacity to induce appropriate cell-mediated immune responses and protection against L. major infection in BALB/c mice. Data also suggests that these parasites do not revert to virulence when injected subcutaneously in mice.
Onyalo
J A
JA
Zoology Department, Kenyatta University, P.O. box 43844, Nairobi, Kenya.
Mwala
D M
DM
Anjili
C O
CO
Orago
A S
AS
Tonui
W K
WK
D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000276:immunology*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines; D014613:Vaccines, Attenuated; C072094:surface antigen P2, Leishmania