Cross-protection against Leishmania donovani but not L. Braziliensis caused by vaccination with L. Major soluble promastigote exogenous antigens in BALB/c mice.
Vaccinating with soluble Leishmania major promastigote exogenous antigens (LmSEAgs) protects mice against challenge with L. major. To explore the potential of LmSEAgs to cross-protect against infection with other species of Leishmania, BALB/c mice were immunized with LmSEAgs prior to challenge with either L. donovani or L. braziliensis promastigotes. Such mice were protected against L. donovani but not L. braziliensis infection. Leishmania braziliensis-infected mice developed lesions that were not significantly different from those of controls and that contained 13-fold more parasites. In contrast, immunized mice infected with L. donovani were protected as illustrated by low splenic parasite loads (as much as 4,913-fold fewer parasites). This protection corresponded to significant increases in gamma interferon and low production of interleukin-4 (IL-4) IL-4 or IL-10, which suggested an enhanced type 1 response.
Tonui
Willy K
WK
Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya. wtonui@kemri.org
Titus
Richard G
RG
D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D007892:Leishmania braziliensis; D007893:Leishmania donovani; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000276:immunology*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination
D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D016207:Cytokines; D016052:Protozoan Vaccines