title: The adjuvant effects of IL-12 and BCG on autoclaved Leishmania major vaccine in experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis.
abstract: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a universal disease causing skin ulceration and deformity. A reliable vaccine remains to be a possible practical means of control. The amastigotes multiply intracellulary in macrophages provoking a cell-mediated type of immune response. IL-12 is the central cytokine of CMI. It is produced by sensitized macrophages, stimulates both Th1 and NK cells to secrete IFN-gamma which in turn activates the intracellular killing of Leishmania in macrophages via increased oxygen radicals. This work aimed mainly at studying the adjuvant effect of IL-12 on autoclaved L. major (ALM) vaccine, compared to that of BCG in L. major infection. The material included five groups of Swiss albino mice; the test group infected after receiving ALM+IL-12, a non-infected control group, and three other control groups infected after receiving ALM+BCG, IL-12 alone and BCG alone L. major was cultured to provide promastigotes for vaccine and infection. The measured parameters included the lesion size, type and progress; the parasite density and the level of IFN-gamma in serum. The results showed that the best protection against challenge infection was obtained by ALM + IL-12 followed by ALM + BCG. The former is recommended for use as a vaccine with regards to its proved efficacy and known safety.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Magda Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.forename: Fouad M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Fathy
authors.forename: Eman H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Hegazy
authors.forename: Eman D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Hussein
authors.forename: Maha M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Eissa
authors.forename: Doaa E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Said
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000276:immunology*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051379:Mice; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012449:Safety; D014611:Vaccination; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated; D018664:Interleukin-12