Human leptospirosis: In search for a better vaccine

Author(s)

Azevedo, Isabela Resende ; Amamura, Thais Akemi ; Isaac, Lourdes

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Scandinavian Journal of Immunology; v. 98, n. 5, p. 21-pg., 2023-08-07.

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a neglected disease caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira and is more prevalent in tropical and subtropical countries. This pathogen infects humans and other animals, responsible for the most widespread zoonosis in the world, estimated to be responsible for 60 000 deaths and 1 million cases per year. To date, commercial vaccines against human leptospirosis are available only in some countries such as Japan, China, Cuba and France. These vaccines prepared with inactivated Leptospira (bacterins) induce a short-term and serovar-specific immune response, with strong adverse side effects. To circumvent these limitations, several research groups are investigating new experimental vaccines in order to ensure that they are safe, efficient, and protect against several pathogenic Leptospira serovars, inducing sterilizing immunity. Most of these protocols use attenuated cultures, preparations after LPS removal, recombinant proteins or DNA from pathogenic Leptospira spp. The aim of this review was to highlight several promising vaccine candidates, considering their immunogenicity, presence in different pathogenic Leptospira serovars, their role in virulence or immune evasion and other factors. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 20/16104-3 - Investigation of metaloprotease papalisina from pathogenic leptospires as vaccine antigen
• Grantee: Isabela Resende Azevedo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 17/10208-9 - Evaluation of the proteolytic activity of proteases secreted by pathogenic leptospires in phagocytosis by human and murine phagocytes
• Grantee: Thais Akemi Amamura
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 17/12924-3 - Etiopathogenesis of Leptospirosis: contribution of the complement system for the control of infection in vivo and in vitro and inflammatory response: identification of gene polymorphisms of the complement system in Leptospirosis patients
• Grantee: Lourdes Isaac
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants