title: Sm-p80-based DNA vaccine formulation induces potent protective immunity against Schistosoma mansoni.
abstract: No effective vaccine exists for the human parasitic disease, schistosomiasis. We have targeted a functionally important antigen, Sm-p80 as a vaccine candidate because of its consistent immunogenicity, protective potential and important role in the immune evasion process. In this study we report that a Sm-p80-based DNA vaccine formulation confers 59% reduction in worm burden in mice. Animals immunized with Sm-p80-pcDNA3 exhibited a decrease in egg production by 84%. Sm-p80 DNA elicited strong immune responses that include IgG2A and IgG2B antibody isotypes in vaccinated animals. Splenocytes proliferated in response to Sm-p80 produced appreciably more Th1 response enhancing cytokines (IL-2, IFN-gamma) than Th2 response enhancing cytokines (IL-4, IL-10). These data reinforce the potential of Sm-p80 as an excellent vaccine candidate for schistosomiasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, 79430, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Torben
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wyatt
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D012550:Schistosoma mansoni / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D016207:Cytokines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D019444:Vaccines, DNA