Induction of protective immune responses against cutaneous leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice by a vaccine containing a
new low pathogenic strain of Leishmania major along with imiquimod
-
1
Pasteur Institute of Iran, Immunology, Iran
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2
Payame Noor University, Biology, Iran
Despite decades of research in countries around the world, an effective vaccine against leishmania infections has not yet been
established. Selection of Leishmania major strains with low pathogenicity might be a straight way to protect the susceptible mice
against cutaneous leishmaniasis for vaccine studies.
Here we used a new low pathogenic strain of L. major (MHOM/IR/03/IPI-DA39), isolated from an endemic area of cutaneous
leishmaniasis located in north of Iran (Damghan) for vaccination compared to a high pathogenic reference strain of Iran
(MRHO/IR/75/ER) which has been used previously in some clinical trials. Whole killed parasites of both strains were inoculated in
the hind footpad along with imiquimod as a Th1 adjuvant. BALB/c mice immunized in three doses at two weeks intervals and
challenged with reference strain parasites, two weeks after the last immunization. Parasite burden by limiting dilution assay and
IFNγ, IL4 mRNA expression by qRT-PCR were performed four weeks post challenge. Lesion size measurements were followed for
twelve weeks.
The group vaccinated with DA39+imiquimod, revealed significant decrease in the parasite burden compared to the reference strain
group (3.41×108±2.19×108 and 3.21×109±1.2×109 live parasites/lymph node, respectively; p=0.05). In DA39+imiquimod group,
smaller lesion size in the footpad was observed from week five to week twelve (p<0.001). Mean fold increase of IFNγ mRNA also
exhibited a dominant Th1 response in DA39+imiquimod compared to reference strain group (350.80±10.55 and 198.61±45.43,
respectively; p=0.01).
The results indicated that using a low pathogenic strain of L. major could lead the immune responses toward partial protection
against cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Keywords:
Low pathogenic Leishmania major,
Vaccine,
imiquimod,
Th1 adjuvant,
cutaneous leishmaniasis
Conference:
15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Milan, Italy, 22 Aug - 27 Aug, 2013.
Presentation Type:
Abstract
Topic:
Host-pathogen interactions
Citation:
Khaze
V,
Alimohammadian
M,
Ajdary
S,
Laamerad
B,
Riazi-Rad
F,
Darabi
H and
Bahrami
F
(2013). Induction of protective immune responses against cutaneous leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice by a vaccine containing a
new low pathogenic strain of Leishmania major along with imiquimod.
Front. Immunol.
Conference Abstract:
15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI).
doi: 10.3389/conf.fimmu.2013.02.00184
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Received:
09 Mar 2013;
Published Online:
22 Aug 2013.
*
Correspondence:
Mr. Vahid Khaze, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Immunology, Tehran, Iran, vahidkhaze@pasteur.ac.ir