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Immunization with B rugia malayi Hsp70 protects mice against L itomosoides sigmodontis challenge infection
Author(s) -
Hartmann W.,
Singh N.,
Rathaur S.,
Brenz Y.,
Liebau E.,
Fleischer B.,
Breloer M.
Publication year - 2014
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.12093
Subject(s) - immunology , brugia malayi , immunization , biology , immune system , immunogenicity , antibody , antigen , immunity , heat shock protein , virology , filariasis , helminths , biochemistry , gene
Summary More than 1·5 billion people are at risk of being infected with filarial nematodes worldwide. Therapy and control of transmission are mainly based on mass drug distribution. As these drugs have to be administered annually or biannually and might be loosing their efficacy, a vaccine against filariae is an alternative approach to chemotherapy. In the current study, we have analysed the potential of Brugia malayi heat shock protein 70 ( Bm Hsp70) as a vaccine candidate in a murine helminth infection. Immunization of BALB /c mice with alum‐precipitated recombinant Bm Hsp70 conferred partial protection against subsequent challenge infection with the rodent parasite Litomosoides sigmodontis . Immunization resulted in reduced numbers of larvae in the pleural cavity as well as reduced numbers of circulating microfilariae. Reduced parasite burden was associated with high titres of Bm Hsp70‐specific antibodies and increased production of type I and II cytokines in response to L. sigmodontis antigen and Bm Hsp70. In summary, the immunization with Bm Hsp70 induced cellular and humoral immune responses and partially protected against L. sigmodontis in a challenge infection. Therefore, we hypothesize that Bm Hsp70 might be considered as a potential vaccine candidate for reduction in the incidence of B. malayi infections in future studies.