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Immunogenicity and efficacy of a bivalent DNA vaccine containing LeIF and TSA genes against murine cutaneous leishmaniasis
Author(s) -
Maspi Nahid,
Ghaffarifar Fatemeh,
Sharifi Zohreh,
Dalimi Abdolhossein,
Dayer Mohammad Saaid
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
apmis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1600-0463
pISSN - 0903-4641
DOI - 10.1111/apm.12651
Subject(s) - immunogenicity , cutaneous leishmaniasis , immune system , leishmaniasis , antigen , dna vaccination , leishmania major , immunology , bivalent (engine) , biology , virology , leishmania tropica , leishmania , immunization , chemistry , parasite hosting , metal , organic chemistry , world wide web , computer science
There is no effective vaccine for the prevention and elimination of leishmaniasis. For this reason, we assessed the protective effects of DNA vaccines containing Le IF , TSA genes alone, or Le IF – TSA fusion against cutaneous leishmaniasis pEGFP‐N1 plasmid (empty vector) and phosphate buffer saline (PBS) were used as control groups. Therefore, cellular and humoral immune responses were evaluated before and after the challenge with Leishmania major . Lesion diameter was also measured 3–12 weeks after challenge. All immunized mice with plasmid DNA encoding Leishmania antigens induced the partial immunity characterized by increased IFN ‐γ and IgG2a levels compared with control groups (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the immunized mice showed significant reduction in mean lesion sizes compared with mice in empty vector and PBS groups (p < 0.05). The reduction in lesion diameter was 29.3%, 34.1%, and 46.2% less in groups vaccinated with Le IF , TSA , and Le IF ‐ TSA , respectively, than in PBS group at 12th week post infection. IFN / IL ‐4 and IgG2a/IgG1 ratios indicated that group receiving Le IF – TSA fusion had the highest IFN ‐γ and IgG2a levels. In this study, DNA immunization promoted Th1 immune response characterized by higher IFN ‐γ and IgG2a levels and also reduction in lesion size. These results showed that a bivalent vaccine containing two distinct antigens may induce more potent immune responses against leishmaniasis.