Immune response and protection assay of recombinant major surface glycoprotein of Leishmania (rgp63) reconstituted with liposomes in BALB/c mice

Vaccine. 2006 Jul 17;24(29-30):5708-17. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2006.04.062. Epub 2006 May 11.

Abstract

In this study the ability of recombinant gp63 entrapped in liposomes to induce immune response and protection against L. major infection in susceptible BALB/c mice was studied. Liposomes containing rgp63 (Lip-rgp63) were prepared from egg lecithin and cholesterol using detergent solubilization method. Immunization of BALB/c mice with rgp63 alone conferred a partial protection while entrapment of rgp63 in liposomes significantly increased the rate of protection (P<0.05). The parasite burden of spleen in mice challenged with L. major was significantly (p<0.001) lower in group of mice immunized with rgp63 alone or Lip-rgp63, however, the least parasite burden was seen in Lip-rgp63 group. Both rgp63 alone and Lip-rgp63 elicited significant delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response compared to controls (p<0.01), however, the DTH response of PBS-rgp63 was less than the Lip-rgp63. Titration of anti-Leishmania IgG isotypes (IgG2a/IgG1) showed a preferential Th1 type of immune response only in mice immunized with Lip-rgp63. The results indicate that liposomes might be used as a suitable immunoadjuvant for development of Leishmania vaccine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / administration & dosage*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
  • Female
  • Leishmania major / growth & development
  • Leishmania major / immunology*
  • Leishmania major / pathogenicity
  • Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / immunology
  • Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / prevention & control*
  • Liposomes / administration & dosage*
  • Metalloendopeptidases / administration & dosage
  • Metalloendopeptidases / genetics
  • Metalloendopeptidases / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Protozoan Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Protozoan Vaccines / genetics
  • Protozoan Vaccines / immunology*
  • Recombinant Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology*
  • Th1 Cells / immunology

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Liposomes
  • Protozoan Vaccines
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Metalloendopeptidases
  • glycoprotein gp63, Leishmania