Leishmania major: Immune response in BALB/c mice immunized with stress-inducible protein 1 encapsulated in liposomes

• Published in: Experimental parasitology 2007-02, Vol.115 (2), p.127-134
• Main Authors: Badiee, Ali, Jaafari, Mahmoud R., Khamesipour, Ali
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adjuvant; Adjuvants, Immunologic; Animals; Antibodies, Protozoan - biosynthesis; Antibodies, Protozoan - blood; antigen; antigen presenting cells; Antigens, Protozoan - administration & dosage; Antigens, Protozoan - immunology; APCs; Biological and medical sciences; bovine serum albumin; BSA; cell-mediated immunity; CMI; cutaneous leishmaniasis; dehydration–rehydration vesicle; dendritic cell; DRV; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; ELISA; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heat-Shock Proteins - administration & dosage; Heat-Shock Proteins - immunology; humoral immune response; IFN-γ; IL-4; Immunization - methods; Immunoglobulin G - biosynthesis; Immunoglobulin G - blood; interferon gamma; interleukin-4; LeIF; Leishmania elongation initiation factor; Leishmania major; Leishmania major - growth & development; Leishmania major - immunology; Leishmania major stress-inducible protein 1; Leishmaniasis; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - immunology; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous - prevention & control; Life cycle. Host-agent relationship. Pathogenesis; Liposome; Liposomes; LmSTI1; macrophage; major histocompatibility complex; MHC; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; MLV; molecular weight; monophosphoryl lipid A; MPL; MPL with squalene; MPL-SE; multilamellar vesicles; MWt; Protozoa; Protozoan Proteins - administration & dosage; Protozoan Proteins - immunology; Protozoan Vaccines - administration & dosage; recombinant LmSTI1; recombinant thiol-specific antioxidant; rLmSTI1; rTSA; SDS; SLA; small unilamellar vesicles; sodium dodecyl sulfate; soluble Leishmania antigen; Spleen - parasitology; subcutaneously; SUV; T helper 1; T helper 2; Th1; Th2; Vaccine
• ISSN: 0014-4894; 1090-2449
• DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2006.07.002

Protection against leishmaniasis is depending upon generation of a Th1 type of immune response. Field trials of first generation Leishmania vaccine showed a limited efficacy even with multiple doses mainly due to lack of an appropriate adjuvant. In this study, susceptible BALB/c mice were immunized with rLmSTI1 encapsulated in liposomes to explore the extent of protection induced by Leishmania antigen encapsulated in the liposomes against challenge with Leishmania major. The results showed that s.c. immunization of BALB/c mice with liposomal rLmSTI1 induced a significant protection against challenge and a significant lower parasite burden in spleen up to 14 weeks after challenge. The protected animals showed a significantly smaller footpad thickness after challenge, and a higher level of anti-SLA IgG antibodies before and after challenge with a predominant IgG2a titer. The data supports the possibility of using liposomal Leishmania antigens as a vaccine.