Experimental immunization with plasmid DNA containing genes expressed in Trypanosoma cruzi amastigote forms

• Grant number: 06/02598-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2006
• End date: June 30, 2007
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Applied Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Maurício Martins Rodrigues
• Grantee: Luiz Gonzaga Francisco de Assis Barros D'Elia Zanella
• Host Institution: Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia. Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Infection by the protozoan parasite Trypanossoma cruzi afflicts 15 million people in South America. Due to its socio-economic impact, there is a great interest in the development of new strategies for prevention and treatment. Recently, several groups demonstrated that genes expressed in the amastigotes of forms of T. cruzi can be efficient to elicit protective immunity against experimental infection. On the other hand, several proteins known to be highly conserved between prokaryotic and eukaryotic organism, such as ribosomal proteins and histones, have been demonstrated a powerful stimulators of the specific immune response. Also, these proteins are recognized by the serum of kinetoplastids infected animals.Base on these informations, the goal of this project is to clone the genes of ribossomal protein (RpL7a), histone (H2b) and surface antigen TcG4 expressed in amastigotes of T. cruzi into the expression vector pcDNA3 to use in genetic immunization in mice. After immunization, the humoral and protective immune responses against experimental T. cruzi infection will be followed. This methodology can be useful for the identification of new genes associated to protective immunity, creating new perspectives for the development of vaccines. Specific aims: 1-Generation of plasmids containing the genes expressed in the amastigote forms of T. cruzi. 2-Evaluation of the humoral immune response against T. cruzi in mice immunized with these plasmids. 3-Evaluation of the protective immunity against T. cruzi infection in immunized mice.