title: Adherence-blocking vaccine for amebiasis.
abstract: The Gal/GalNAc lectin is a candidate vaccine antigen for an amebiasis vaccine due to its mediation of parasite adherence to the human intestine, because partial immunity in humans is associated with a mucosal IgA response against it, and because it is effective as a vaccine against amebic colitis in the murine model. The LecA domain of the Gal/GalNAc lectin contains neutralizing antibody epitopes. LecA contains the active site of the lectin (the carbohydrate recognition domain or "CRD") and has been an effective vaccine antigen in animal models of amebic colitis and liver abscess. Research needs include production of the LecA domain of the Gal/GalNAc lectin by a process that can be transferred to cGMP and optimization for immunogenicity, using adjuvants such as alum, MF59 or QS-21 adjuvants. Accomplishing this will enable testing of the ability of LecA immunizations to protect from amebic colitis in humans.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908-1340, USA. wap3g@virginia.edu
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Petri
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Chaudhry
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haque
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Houpt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000502:physiology*; D004749:Entamoebiasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D023421:Models, Animal; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines