title: Leishmania (Viannia) shawi purified antigens confer protection against murine cutaneous leishmaniasis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Leishmania (Viannia) shawi was characterized only recently, and few studies concerning the immunogenic and protective properties of its antigens have been performed. The present study aimed to evaluate the protective potential of the five antigenic fractions isolated from L. (V.) shawi promastigotes in experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Soluble antigen from L. (V.) shawi promastigotes was submitted to reverse phase HPLC to purify F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5 antigens. BALB/c mice were immunized once a week for two consecutive weeks by subcutaneous routes in the rump, using 25 μg protein. After 1 week, groups were challenged in the  footpad with L. (V.) shawi promastigotes. After 8 weeks, those same mice were sacrificed and parasite burden as well as the cellular and humoral immune responses were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  F1 and F5-immunized mice restrained lesion progression and parasite load in the skin. However, only the F1 group was able to control the parasitism in lymph nodes, which was associated with low IL-4 and high IFN-γ production; IgG2a isotype was increased in this group. Immunizations with F2, F3 and F4 antigens did not protect mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The capability of antigens to restrain IL-4 levels and increase IFN-γ was associated with protection, such as in immunization using F1 antigen.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Patologia de Moléstias Infecciosas (LIM-50), Departmento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 455, São Paulo, SP 01246-903, Brazil. felipepassero@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Luiz Felipe Domingues
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Passero
authors.forename: Ana Kely
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Maria Luiza A C
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bordon
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonfim-Melo
authors.forename: Marcos Hikari
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Toyama
authors.forename: Carlos Eduardo Pereira
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Corbett
authors.forename: Márcia Dalastra
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Laurenti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007891:Leishmania / Q000276:immunology*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D059208:Parasite Load
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D016207:Cytokines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G