title: A deficiency in the B cell response of C57BL/6 mice correlates with loss of macrophage-mediated killing of Leishmania amazonensis.
abstract: Infection of C3HeB/FeJ and C57BL/6 mice with Leishmania major stimulates a healing cell-mediated immune response, while Leishmania amazonensis infection leads to chronic disease. Here we show C3HeB/FeJ mice co-infected with both species of Leishmania heal, while co-infected C57BL/6 mice do not. Using an in vitro killing assay we determined B cells from infected C57BL/6 mice are ineffective in promoting parasite killing compared with B cells from infected C3HeB/FeJ mice. Furthermore, infected C57BL/6 mice produce less antigen-specific antibodies compared with infected C3HeB/FeJ mice. These findings suggest B cells play a required role in the cell-mediated immune response against L. amazonensis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011-1250, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Gibson-Corley
authors.forename: Paola M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Boggiatto
authors.forename: Rami M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Mukbel
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Douglas E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007894:Leishmania mexicana / Q000276:immunology*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D051379:Mice / Q000276:immunology*; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010587:Phagocytosis