Antibiotic resistance free plasmid DNA expressing LACK protein leads towards a protective Th1 response against Leishmania infantum infection

• Published in: Vaccine 2009-11, Vol.27 (48), p.6695-6703
• Main Authors: Ramos, I, Alonso, A, Peris, A, Marcen, J.M, Abengozar, M.A, Alcolea, P.J, Castillo, J.A, Larraga, V
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Allergy and Immunology; Animals; Antibiotic resistance; Antibiotic resistance free DNA vaccine; Antibodies, Protozoan - blood; Antigens, Protozoan - immunology; Applied microbiology; Biological and medical sciences; Canine visceral leishmaniasis; Cytokines - immunology; DNA, Protozoan - immunology; Dog Diseases - immunology; Dog Diseases - prevention & control; Dogs; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Human protozoal diseases; Immunization, Secondary; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Infectious diseases; LACK; Leishmania infantum; Leishmania infantum - immunology; Leishmaniasis Vaccines - immunology; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - immunology; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - prevention & control; Leishmaniasis, Visceral - veterinary; Leshmaniasis; Liver - parasitology; Lymphocyte Activation; Male; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Modified vaccinia virus Ankara; Parasitic diseases; Plasmids; Protozoal diseases; Protozoan Proteins - immunology; Th1 Cells - immunology; Vaccines, antisera, therapeutical immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies (general aspects); Vaccines, DNA - immunology; Virology
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.08.091

Abstract Canine visceral leishmaniasis is a serious public health concern in the Mediterranean basin since dogs are the main Leishmania infantum reservoir. However, there is not a vaccination method in veterinary use in this area, and therefore the development of a vaccine against this parasite is essential for the possible control of the disease. Previous reports have shown the efficacy of heterologous prime-boost vaccination with the pCIneo plasmid and the poxvirus VV (both Western Reserve and MVA strains) expressing L. infantum LACK antigen against canine leishmaniasis. As pCIneo-LACK plasmid contains antibiotic resistance genes, its use as a profilactic method is not recommended. Hence, the antibiotic resistance gene free pORT-LACK plasmid is a more suitable tool for its use as a vaccine. Here we report the protective and immunostimulatory effect of the prime-boost pORT-LACK/MVA-LACK vaccination tested in a canine experimental model. Vaccination induced a reduction in clinical signs and in parasite burden in the liver, an induction of the Leishmania -specific T cell activation, as well as an increase of the expression of Th1 type cytokines in PBMC and target organs.