Vaccination with the Leishmania infantum ribosomal proteins induces protection in BALB/c mice against Leishmania chagasi and Leishmania amazonensis challenge.
Leishmania chagasi and Leishmania amazonensis are the etiologic agents of different clinical forms of human leishmaniasis in South America. In an attempt to select candidate antigens for a vaccine protecting against different Leishmania species, the efficacy of vaccination using Leishmania ribosomal proteins and saponin as adjuvant was examined in BALB/c mice against challenge infection with both parasite species. Mice vaccinated with parasite ribosomal proteins purified from Leishmania infantum plus saponin showed a specific production of IFN-γ, IL-12 and GM-CSF after in vitro stimulation with L. infantum ribosomal proteins. Vaccinated mice showed a reduction in the liver and spleen parasite burdens after L. chagasi infection. After L. amazonensis challenge, vaccinated mice showed a decrease of the dermal pathology and a reduction in the parasite loads in the footpad and spleen. In both models, protection was correlated to an IL-12-dependent production of IFN-γ by CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells that activate macrophages for the synthesis of NO. In the protected mice a decrease in the parasite-mediated IL-4 and IL-10 responses was also observed. In mice challenged with L. amazonensis, lower levels of anti-parasite-specific antibodies were detected. Thus, Leishmania ribosomal proteins plus saponin fits the requirements to compose a pan-Leishmania vaccine.
Chávez-Fumagalli
Miguel A
MA
Departamento de Farmacologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 31.270-901, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Costa
Mariana A F
MA
Oliveira
Dulcilene M
DM
Ramírez
Laura
L
Costa
Lourena E
LE
Duarte
Mariana C
MC
Martins
Vivian T
VT
Oliveira
Jamil S
JS
Olortegi
Carlos C
CC
Bonay
Pedro
P
Alonso
Carlos
C
Tavares
Carlos A P
CA
Soto
Manuel
M
Coelho
Eduardo A F
EA
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D007894:Leishmania mexicana / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D054332:Leishmaniasis Vaccines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012503:Saponins / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016207:Cytokines; D054332:Leishmaniasis Vaccines; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D012269:Ribosomal Proteins; D012503:Saponins; D009569:Nitric Oxide