Vaccination of BALB/c mice with Leishmania donovani derived lipophosphoglycan does not conver cross-protection to L. major infections.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether Leishmania donovani-derived lipophosphoglycan (LPG) can confer cross-protection to L. major in susceptible BALB/c mice model.


METHODS
BALB/c mice were immunised with a total dose of 30 microg of LPG plus 150 microl of mycobacterium bovis Bacille Calmette guerin (BCG) and later challenged with virulent L. Major parasites.


RESULTS
This study demonstrated an activation of both the humoral as well as cell-mediated response to LPG mixed with BCG which correlated with resistance against the disease. However, immunised mice were not protected compared to their PBS controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Though L. donovani infections have been shown to confer cross-protection to L. major this may not be true for purified antigens.
Tonui
W K
WK
Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development, Kenya Medical Research Institute, PO Box 54840, Nairobi, Kenya.
D000818:Animals; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006028:Glycosphingolipids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000276:immunology*; D018320:Leishmania major; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012016:Reference Values; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014612:Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D006028:Glycosphingolipids; D014612:Vaccines; C008290:lipophosphonoglycan