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Cationic solid–lipid nanoparticles are as efficient as electroporation in DNA vaccination against visceral leishmaniasis in mice
Author(s) -
Saljoughian N.,
Zahedifard F.,
Doroud D.,
Doustdari F.,
Vasei M.,
Papadopoulou B.,
Rafati S.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
parasite immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1365-3024
pISSN - 0141-9838
DOI - 10.1111/pim.12042
Subject(s) - visceral leishmaniasis , leishmania infantum , dna vaccination , immune system , immunology , vaccination , antigen , leishmania donovani , biology , virology , leishmaniasis , immunization
Summary The use of an appropriate delivery system has recently emerged as a promising approach for the development of effective vaccination against visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Here, we compare two vaccine delivery systems, namely electroporation and cationic solid–lipid nanoparticle ( cSLN ) formulation, to administer a DNA vaccine harbouring the L. donovani A2 antigen along with L. infantum cysteine proteinases [CPA and CPB without its unusual C‐terminal extension (CPB −CTE )] and evaluate their potential against L. infantum challenge. Prime‐boost administration of the pcDNA‐A2‐CPA‐CPB −CTE delivered by either electroporation or cSLN formulation protects BALB/c mice against L. infantum challenge and that protective immunity is associated with high levels of IFN‐γ and lower levels of IL‐10 production, leading to a strong Th1 immune response. At all time points, the ratio of IFN‐γ: IL‐10 induced upon restimulation with rA 2‐ rCPA ‐ rCPB and F/T antigens was significantly higher in vaccinated animals. Moreover, Th2‐efficient protection was elicited through a high humoral immune response. Nitric oxide production, parasite burden and histopathological analysis were also in concordance with other findings. Overall, these data indicate that similar to the electroporation delivery system, cSLN s as a nanoscale vehicle of Leishmania antigens could improve immune response, hence indicating the promise of these strategies against visceral leishmaniasis.