Intranasal immunization with LACK-DNA promotes protective immunity in hamsters challenged with Leishmania chagasi

Parasitology. 2011 Dec;138(14):1892-7. doi: 10.1017/S0031182011001417. Epub 2011 Aug 26.

Abstract

LACK (Leishmania analogue of the receptor kinase C) is a conserved protein in protozoans of the genus Leishmania which is associated with the immunopathogenesis and susceptibility of BALB/c mice to L. major infection. Previously, we demonstrated that intranasal immunization with a plasmid carrying the LACK gene of Leishmania infantum (LACK-DNA) promotes protective immunity in BALB/c mice against Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania chagasi. In the present study, we investigated the protective immunity achieved in hamsters intranasally vaccinated with 2 doses of LACK-DNA (30 μg). Compared with controls (PBS and pCI-neo plasmid), animals vaccinated with LACK-DNA showed significant reduction in parasite loads in the spleen and liver, increased lymphoproliferative response and increased nitric oxide (NO) production by parasite antigen-stimulated splenocytes. Furthermore, hamsters vaccinated with LACK-DNA presented high IgG and IgG2a serum levels when compared to control animals. Our results showed that intranasal vaccination with LACK-DNA promotes protective immune responses in hamsters and demonstrated the broad spectrum of intranasal LACK-DNA efficacy in different host species, confirming previous results in murine cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Intranasal
  • Animals
  • Cricetinae
  • DNA, Protozoan / genetics
  • DNA, Protozoan / immunology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Immunity, Humoral
  • Immunization
  • Leishmania / genetics
  • Leishmania / immunology*
  • Leishmania infantum / genetics*
  • Leishmaniasis Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / parasitology
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / prevention & control*
  • Mesocricetus
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Spleen / parasitology
  • Vaccination*

Substances

  • DNA, Protozoan
  • Leishmaniasis Vaccines
  • Nitric Oxide