Comparative evaluation of phenol and thimerosal as preservatives for a candidate vaccine against American cutaneous leishmaniasis.
For decades thimerosal has been used as a preservative in the candidate vaccine for cutaneous leishmaniasis, which was developed by Mayrink et al. The use of thimerosal in humans has been banned due to its mercury content. This study addresses the standardization of phenol as a new candidate vaccine preservative. We have found that the proteolytic activity was abolished when the test was conducted using the candidate vaccine added to merthiolate (MtVac) as well as to phenol (PhVac). The Montenegro's skin test conversion rates induced by MtVac and by PhVac was 68.06% and 85.9%, respectively, and these values were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The proliferative response of peripheral mononuclear blood cells shows that the stimulation index of mice immunized with both candidate vaccines was higher than the one in control animals (p < 0.05). The ability of the candidate vaccines to induce protection in C57BL/10 mice against a challenge with infective Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes was tested and the mice immunized with PhVac developed smaller lesions than the mice immunized with MtVac. Electrophoresis of phenol-preserved antigen revealed a number of proteins, which were better preserved in PhVac. These results do in fact encourage the use of phenol for preserving the immunogenic and biochemical properties of the candidate vaccine for cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Mayrink
Wilson
W
Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
Tavares
Carlos Alberto Pereira
CA
Deus
Rosangela Barbosa de
RB
Pinheiro
Melina Barros
MB
Guimarães
Tânia Mara Pinto Dabés
TM
Andrade
Hélida Monteiro de
HM
Costa
Carlos Alberto da
CA
Toledo
Vicente de Paulo Coelho Peixoto da
Vde P
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054332:Leishmaniasis Vaccines / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D019800:Phenol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D012882:Skin Tests; D013849:Thimerosal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*
D054332:Leishmaniasis Vaccines; D011310:Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; D013849:Thimerosal; D019800:Phenol