Vaccinations with Live-attenuated Leishmania Major Promastigotes and Challenge Infection with L. Major in BALB/c Mice.

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Date
2005-04Author
Onyalo, Janet Achieng'
Mwala, D. M.
Anjili, C. O.
Orago, A. S.
Tonui, W. K.
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Show full item recordAbstract
BACKGROUND:
Currently there is no vaccine available in use against any form of leishmaniases worldwide.
OBJECTIVE:
To assess potential of a live-attenuated Leishmania major promastigates, for protection against a challenge infection with L. major in BALB/c mice.
DESIGN:
A laboratory based study.
SETTING:
Study was carried out at Centre for Biotechnology Research and Development, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi.
RESULTS:
The greatest protection against challenge with L. major was seen in mice immunised with live parasites (P < 0.001) compared to vaccinations with heat killed or soluble antigens. In general, immunised mice produced high level of antileishmanial antibodies and T cell stimulation to their respective antigens.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our live-attenuated parasites produced by serial sub-culture of L. major parasites 118 times showed the capacity to induce appropriate cell-mediated immune responses and protection against L. major infection in BALB/c mice. Data also suggests that these parasites do not revert to virulence when injected subcutaneously in mice.