title: Molecular and cellular mechanisms of protective immunity to coccidioidomycosis.
abstract: Coccidioides immitis is endemic in the soil of the desert Southwest. It causes a respiratory infection that is usually mild, but can last months and may disseminate beyond the lung. Disseminated infections can be fatal or require life-long therapy. Development of an effective vaccine may be a successful method of preventing serious disease. In this paper, we show that immunostimulatory-oligodeoxynucleotides (ISS-ODN) are an effective adjuvant for a recombinant coccidioidal protein known as antigen 2/proline rich antigen. Protective immunity induced by this ISS-ODN-based vaccine requires IL-12, interferon-gamma and MHC Class II-restricted T-cells. Cytotoxic CD8 T-cells are not required. This study elucidates the mechanisms needed to elicit successful immunity against coccidioidomycosis, and holds promise for development of an effective coccidioidal vaccine against coccidioidomycosis.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Pathology and Medicine, University of California-San Diego School of Medicine, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. tkirkland@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Theo N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Kirkland
authors.forename: Eyal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Raz
authors.forename: Sandip K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Datta
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D003045:Coccidioides / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D003047:Coccidioidomycosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D005657:Fungal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D007271:Injections, Intradermal; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011392:Proline; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; C408982:CPG-oligonucleotide; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D005657:Fungal Vaccines; D006023:Glycoproteins; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; C102758:antigen 2, Coccidioides; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D011392:Proline