Abstract
We present here the identification and characterization of Leishmania sterol 24-c-methyltransferase (SMT), as well as data on protection of mice immunized with this Ag formulated in MPL-SE. Serological evaluation revealed that SMT is recognized by VL patients. C57BL/6 mice immunized with this vaccine candidate plus MPL-SE showed Ag-specific Th1 immune responses characterized by robust production of IFN-gamma upon specific Ag re-exposure in vitro. Upon challenge with L. infantum, mice immunized with SMT plus MPL-SE showed significant lower parasite burdens in both spleens and livers compared with non-immunized mice or mice injected with adjuvant alone. The results indicate that SMT/MPL-SE can be an effective vaccine candidate for use against VL.
Publication types
-
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
-
Adjuvants, Immunologic / administration & dosage
-
Amino Acid Sequence
-
Animals
-
Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
-
Antigens, Protozoan / administration & dosage
-
Antigens, Protozoan / genetics
-
Base Sequence
-
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
-
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
-
Cytokines / biosynthesis
-
DNA Primers / genetics
-
DNA, Protozoan / genetics
-
Female
-
Humans
-
In Vitro Techniques
-
Leishmania infantum / enzymology*
-
Leishmania infantum / genetics
-
Leishmania infantum / immunology*
-
Leishmaniasis Vaccines / administration & dosage*
-
Leishmaniasis Vaccines / genetics
-
Leishmaniasis Vaccines / immunology
-
Leishmaniasis, Visceral / immunology*
-
Leishmaniasis, Visceral / prevention & control*
-
Methyltransferases / genetics
-
Methyltransferases / immunology*
-
Mice
-
Mice, Inbred C57BL
-
Molecular Sequence Data
-
Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
-
Th1 Cells / immunology
-
Vaccines, Synthetic / administration & dosage
-
Vaccines, Synthetic / genetics
-
Vaccines, Synthetic / immunology
Substances
-
Adjuvants, Immunologic
-
Antibodies, Protozoan
-
Antigens, Protozoan
-
Cytokines
-
DNA Primers
-
DNA, Protozoan
-
Leishmaniasis Vaccines
-
Vaccines, Synthetic
-
Methyltransferases
-
delta 24-sterol methyltransferase