Fatty acid binding proteins (FABP) from Fasciola hepatica have demonstrated immune cross-protection against schistosomes. The present study was conducted to develop a new formulation of the recombinant FABP rFh15 with the synthetic immunomodulator AA0029 in the adjuvant adaptation (ADAD) vaccination system and to evaluate its ability to induce immune response and protection against the challenge with Schistosoma bovis cercariae. Immunization of BALB/c mice showed high levels of TNFα, IFNγ, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, and IL-4 in splenocyte supernatant culture and also high levels of serum specific anti-rFh15 IgG, IgG1, IgG2a IgE and IgM antibodies suggesting a mixed Th1/Th2 immune response. Using this approach, high levels of protection against experimental challenge with S. bovis cercariae were observed in the mouse and hamster models. A marked reduction up to 64% in worm burden, as well as in the number of eggs retained in liver (66%) and intestine (77%) and hepatic lesions (42%), was achieved in vaccinated BALB/c mice. Golden hamsters vaccinated and challenged in similar conditions had reductions in recovered worms (83%), liver eggs (90%), intestine eggs (96%), liver lesions (56%) and worm fecundity (48-80%). These data suggest that formulation of rFh15 in the ADAD vaccination system using the AA0029 immunomodulator could be a good option to drive an effective immunological response against schistosomiasis.
Keywords: AA0029; Adjuvant; Fatty acid-binding protein; Schistosoma bovis; Vaccine; rFh15.
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