Antibiotic resistance free plasmid DNA expressing LACK protein leads towards a protective Th1 response against Leishmania infantum infection.
Canine visceral leishmaniasis is a serious public health concern in the Mediterranean basin since dogs are the main Leishmania infantum reservoir. However, there is not a vaccination method in veterinary use in this area, and therefore the development of a vaccine against this parasite is essential for the possible control of the disease. Previous reports have shown the efficacy of heterologous prime-boost vaccination with the pCIneo plasmid and the poxvirus VV (both Western Reserve and MVA strains) expressing L. infantum LACK antigen against canine leishmaniasis. As pCIneo-LACK plasmid contains antibiotic resistance genes, its use as a profilactic method is not recommended. Hence, the antibiotic resistance gene free pORT-LACK plasmid is a more suitable tool for its use as a vaccine. Here we report the protective and immunostimulatory effect of the prime-boost pORT-LACK/MVA-LACK vaccination tested in a canine experimental model. Vaccination induced a reduction in clinical signs and in parasite burden in the liver, an induction of the Leishmania-specific T cell activation, as well as an increase of the expression of Th1 type cytokines in PBMC and target organs.
Ramos
I
I
Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Spanish Research Council, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
Alonso
A
A
Peris
A
A
Marcen
J M
JM
Abengozar
M A
MA
Alcolea
P J
PJ
Castillo
J A
JA
Larraga
V
V
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000276:immunology; D054332:Leishmaniasis Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D010957:Plasmids; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000276:immunology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D016207:Cytokines; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D054332:Leishmaniasis Vaccines; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; C093139:LACK antigen, Leishmania