Immune responses in DNA vaccine formulated with PMMA following immunization and after challenge with Leishmania major

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is a major infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. Despite of many efforts toward vaccine against Leishmania no effective vaccine has been approved yet. DNA vaccines can generate more powerful and broad immune responses than conventional vaccines. In order to increase immunity, the DNA vaccine has been supplemented with adjuvant. In this study a new nano-vaccine containing TSA recombinant plasmid and poly(methylmethacrylate) nanoparticles (act as adjuvant) was designed and its immunogenicity tested on BALB/c mouse. After three intramuscular injection of nano-vaccine (100 μg), the recombinant TSA protein (20 μg) was injected subcutaneously. Finally as a challenge animals were infected by Leishmania major. After the last injection of nano-vaccine, after protein booster injection, and also after challenge, cellular immune and antibody responses were evaluated by ELISA method. The findings of this study showed the new nano-vaccine was capable of induction both cytokines secretion and specific antibody responses, but predominant Th1 immune response characterized by IFN-γ production compared to control groups. Moreover, results revealed that nano-vaccine was effective in reducing parasite burden in the spleen of Leishmania major-infected BALB/c mice. Base on results, current candidate vaccine has potency for further studies.

A recombinant chimeric protein composed of human and mice‐specific CD4+ and CD8+ T‐cell epitopes protects against visceral leishmaniasis

“…Besides recombinant proteins, DNA plasmid had been also studied as vaccine delivery against leishmaniasis . These candidates are able to induce a Th1 immune response, resulting in a strong cytotoxic T‐cell immunity.…”

Induction of Immune Responses by DNA Vaccines Formulated with Dendrimer and Poly (Methyl Methacrylate) (PMMA) Nano-Adjuvants in BALB/c Mice Infected with Leishmania major

“…The solution was finally purified by comprehensive dialysis, and the resulting PMMA-plasmid DNA nanoparticles were suspended in double-purified water. The nanoparticle size was determined by using a Zeta Sizer (Malvern, UK) (data not shown) [ 1 ]. TSA recombinant peptide booster (22 KD) was a gift from Miss Nargestehrani, a faculty member of the Islamic Azad University of Tehran [ 4 ][ 5 ][ 6 ].…”

“…Thiol-Specific Antioxidant (TSA) protein is one of the dominant antigens of L. major promastigote and amastigote and is considered as a primary DNA vaccine candidate against leishmaniasis. Many attempts to improve an efficient anti- Leishmania vaccine have failed due to lacking a suitable adjuvant [ 1 ][ 2 ].…”

Overcoming multi‐resistant leishmania treatment by nanoencapsulation of potent antimicrobials

“…Poly(methyl methacrylate) nanoparticle adjuvant also resulted in higher stability of the vaccines. 131 Eskandari et al 132 tested immunoliposomes containing soluble Leishmania antigens (SLA) as an antigen delivery system in a murine model of leishmaniasis. Immunoliposomes were prepared by grafting nonimmune mouse IgG onto the liposomal surface.…”