Cross-protective efficacy from a immunogen firstly identified in Leishmania infantum against tegumentary leishmaniasis

V. T. Martins, D. P. Lage, M. C. Duarte, L. E. Costa, M. A. Chávez-Fumagalli, B. M. Roatt, D. Menezes-Souza, C. A.P. Tavares, E. A.F. Coelho

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Experimental vaccine candidates have been evaluated to prevent leishmaniasis, but no commercial vaccine has been proved to be effective against more than one parasite species. LiHyT is a Leishmania-specific protein that was firstly identified as protective against Leishmania infantum. In this study, LiHyT was evaluated as a vaccine to against two Leishmania species causing tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL): Leishmania major and Leishmania braziliensis. BALB/c mice were immunized with rLiHyT plus saponin and lately challenged with promastigotes of the two parasite species. The immune response generated was evaluated before and 10 weeks after infection, as well as the parasite burden at this time after infection. The vaccination induced a Th1 response, which was characterized by the production of IFN-γ, IL-12 and GM-CSF, as well as by high levels of IgG2a antibodies, after in vitro stimulation using both the protein and parasite extracts. After challenge, vaccinated mice showed significant reductions in their infected footpads, as well as in the parasite burden in the tissue and organs evaluated, when compared to the control groups. The anti-Leishmania Th1 response was maintained after infection, being the IFN-γ production based mainly on CD4+ T cells. We described one conserved Leishmania-specific protein that could compose a pan-Leishmania vaccine.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)108-117
Number of pages10
JournalParasite Immunology
Volume38
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Feb 2016
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • BALB/c mice
  • Hypothetical proteins
  • Leishmania braziliensis
  • Leishmania major
  • Th1 immune response
  • Vaccine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Cross-protective efficacy from a immunogen firstly identified in Leishmania infantum against tegumentary leishmaniasis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this