Analysis of immunogenicity and protection generated by third-generation vaccines pVAX1-FSD and pVAX1-SP against experimental American Tegumentar Leishmanasis

• Grant number: 12/05219-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2012
• End date: July 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Pathological Anatomy and Clinical Pathology
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Felipe Domingues Passero
• Grantee: Bruno Luiz Soares Campos
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The antigens released by parasites are interesting targets for the development of vaccine candidates, once they firstly interact with the innate immune system establishing an intrinsic physiological interaction with the host cell. Therefore, these antigens have been the target for the development of vaccines against murine and canine experimental leishmaniasis. Yet, with the recent publication of the Leishmania donovani secretome was possible to develop well-defined vaccine candidates against this tropical disease; however, a limiting factor is the yield of this type of antigen for further purification. Thus, DNA vaccines are good alternatives to overcome the problem of protein purification, since the target proteins are expressed in vivo. In the present project the immunogenic and protective effects of two different DNA vaccines produced with iron-superoxide dismutase and serine peptidase from L. (Leishmania) amazonensis, which will be carried by pVAX1 bacterial plasmid, already licensed for human use will be assayed. BALB/c mice will be immunized with DNA vaccine three times at regular intervals of 15 days intramuscularly. After 30 days of the last vaccination, six animals will be sacrificed and immunological tests will be conducted to analyze the immunogenicity of vaccines. For analysis of protection, BALB/c will be immunized and after 30 days will be challenged subcutaneously in the footpad with L. (L.) amazonensis promastigotes. Immunological, functional and histopathological experiments will be conducted to examine the efficacy of these vaccines. Furthermore, analysis of the function of CD4+ and CD8+T lymphocytes will be analyzed through passive transference. Re-infection can be performed. This project aims to contribute to the development of vaccine candidates against American Tegumentar Leishmaniasis.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

CAMPOS, B. L. S.; SILVA, T. N.; RIBEIRO, S. P.; CARVALHO, K. I. L.; KALLAS, E. G.; LAURENTI, M. D.; PASSERO, L. F. D.. Analysis of iron superoxide dismutase-encoding DNA vaccine on the evolution of the Leishmania amazonensis experimental infection. PARASITE IMMUNOLOGY, v. 37, n. 8, p. 407-416, AUG 2015. (12/10409-0, 12/05219-8, 11/51157-1)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

CAMPOS, Bruno Luiz Soares. Analysis of Immunogenicity and protection generated by third generation immunogens pVAX1-FSD and pVAX1-SP against experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis. 2015. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina (FM/SBD) São Paulo.