title: Synthetic glycovaccine protects against the bite of leishmania-infected sand flies.
abstract: Leishmaniasis is a vectorborne disease transmitted to human and other mammalian hosts by sand fly bite. In the present study, we show that immunization with Leishmania mexicana promastigote secretory gel (PSG) or with a chemically defined synthetic glycovaccine containing the glycans found in L. mexicana PSG can provide significant protection against challenge by the bite of infected sand flies. Only the glycan from L. mexicana was protective; those from other species did not protect against L. mexicana infection. Furthermore, neither PSG nor the glycovaccine protected against artificial needle challenge, which is traditionally used in antileishmanial vaccine development. Conversely, an antigen preparation that was effective against needle challenge offered no protection against sand fly bite. These findings provide a new target for Leishmania vaccine development and demonstrate the critical role that the vector plays in the evaluation of candidate vaccines for leishmaniasis and other vectorborne diseases.
authors.affiliation: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, University of Liverpool, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Matthew E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Olga V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Sizova
authors.forename: Michael A J
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: Andrei V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Nikolaev
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Bates
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007114:Immunization; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings / Q000517:prevention & control; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology; D007894:Leishmania mexicana / Q000378:metabolism*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000469:parasitology; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017261:Glycosylphosphatidylinositols; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines