Vaccination using recombinants influenza and adenoviruses encoding amastigote surface protein-2 are highly effective on protection against Trypanosoma cruzi infection

PLoS One. 2013 Apr 24;8(4):e61795. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061795. Print 2013.

Abstract

In the present study we evaluated the protection raised by immunization with recombinant influenza viruses carrying sequences coding for polypeptides corresponding to medial and carboxi-terminal moieties of Trypanosoma cruzi ´s amastigote surface protein 2 (ASP2). Those viruses were used in sequential immunization with recombinant adenovirus (heterologous prime-boost immunization protocol) encoding the complete sequence of ASP2 (Ad-ASP2) in two mouse strains (C57BL/6 and C3H/He). The CD8 effector response elicited by this protocol was comparable to that observed in mice immunized twice with Ad-ASP2 and more robust than that observed in mice that were immunized once with Ad-ASP2. Whereas a single immunization with Ad-ASP2 sufficed to completely protect C57BL/6 mice, a higher survival rate was observed in C3H/He mice that were primed with recombinant influenza virus and boosted with Ad-ASP2 after being challenged with T. cruzi. Analyzing the phenotype of CD8+ T cells obtained from spleen of vaccinated C3H/He mice we observed that heterologous prime-boost immunization protocol elicited more CD8+ T cells specific for the immunodominant epitope as well as a higher number of CD8+ T cells producing TNF-α and IFN-γ and a higher mobilization of surface marker CD107a. Taken together, our results suggest that immunodominant subpopulations of CD8+ T elicited after immunization could be directly related to degree of protection achieved by different immunization protocols using different viral vectors. Overall, these results demonstrated the usefulness of recombinant influenza viruses in immunization protocols against Chagas Disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae / genetics
  • Adenoviridae / immunology
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / immunology
  • Antibody Specificity / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Chagas Disease / immunology
  • Chagas Disease / mortality
  • Chagas Disease / parasitology
  • Chagas Disease / prevention & control*
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte / immunology
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Genetic Vectors / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular
  • Immunity, Humoral
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Neuraminidase / immunology*
  • Orthomyxoviridae / genetics
  • Orthomyxoviridae / immunology
  • Phenotype
  • Protozoan Vaccines / genetics
  • Protozoan Vaccines / immunology*
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / genetics
  • Trypanosoma cruzi / immunology*
  • Vaccination

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Protozoan Vaccines
  • ASP-2 protein, Trypanosoma cruzi
  • Neuraminidase

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from FIOCRUZ/PDTIS-Vacinas, and National Institute for Vaccine Development and Technology (CNPq/FAPEMIG N° 015/2008; http://www.cpqrr.fiocruz.br/inctv/), CNPq/MAPA/SDA N° 064/2008, and Universal FAPEMIG (http://www.fapemig.br). Fellowships were provided by CNPq (http://www.cnpq.br/) to all authors. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.