Profile of pro-inflammatory cytokines in response to nucleoside hydrolase (NH36) epitopes in dogs with Visceral Leishmaniasis

• Grant number: 24/06852-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2024
• End date: June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Preventive Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Valéria Marçal Felix de Lima
• Grantee: Gabrielle Marques Loredo
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária (FMVA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araçatuba. Araçatuba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic parasitic disease andendemic in Brazil. The domestic dog is the main urban reservoir of Leishmaniainfantum, and the presence of seropositive dogs is related to infection in humans.Prophylactic measures act in the epidemiological cycle, but face limitationslogistical and financial, therefore vaccination emerges as a crucial strategy due to theability to modulate the immune response and reduce parasite load. The immune responseTh1 cell is associated with resistance and Th2 with susceptibility of the infected dog,an effective vaccine must induce an intense and long-lasting CD4+ and TCD8+ T response,with production of IFN-ÿ, IL-2 and TNF-³. Recent studies are dedicated to thedevelopment of vaccines from protein domains and nucleoside epitopesNH36 hydrolase from Leishmania spp, with the potential to triggermore effective, specific and cross-protective immune response between species ofprotozoan. In immunological assays with human PBMC cells, domainsNH36 proteins enhanced the protective immune response, with the production ofIFN-³, IL-1, TNF, IL-17 and IL-10. The genetic structure of the MHC class II of dogspresents homology in analogous regions of the human MHC, however it has not yetit is defined whether NH36 epitopes present significant immunogenicity incanine species. Therefore, the objective of this work is to establish the profile ofpro-inflammatory cytokines in response to stimulation with NH36 epitopes in dogsinfected and uninfected. The results could contribute to the developmentof more efficient vaccines for Visceral Leishmaniasis.