Immunization with Brugia malayi Hsp70 protects mice against Litomosoides sigmodontis challenge infection. (April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hartmann, W.; Singh, N.; Rathaur, S.; Brenz, Y.; Liebau, E.; Fleischer, B.; Breloer, M.
• Is Part Of: Parasite immunology. Volume 36:Number 4(2014:Apr.)
• Page Start: 141
• Page End: 149
• Publication Date: 2014-04
• Subjects: Veterinary parasitology -- Immunological aspects -- Periodicals; Host-parasite relationships -- Immunological aspects -- Periodicals; 571.96
• DOI: 10.1111/pim.12093
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0141-9838

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="pim12093-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <p>More than 1·5 billion people are at risk of being infected with filarial nematodes worldwide. Therapy and control of transmission are mainly based on mass drug distribution. As these drugs have to be administered annually or biannually and might be loosing their efficacy, a vaccine against filariae is an alternative approach to chemotherapy. In the current study, we have analysed the potential of <italic>Brugia malayi</italic> heat shock protein 70 (<italic>Bm</italic>Hsp70) as a vaccine candidate in a murine helminth infection. Immunization of BALB/c mice with alum‐precipitated recombinant <italic>Bm</italic>Hsp70 conferred partial protection against subsequent challenge infection with the rodent parasite <italic>Litomosoides sigmodontis</italic>. Immunization resulted in reduced numbers of larvae in the pleural cavity as well as reduced numbers of circulating microfilariae. Reduced parasite burden was associated with high titres of <italic>Bm</italic>Hsp70‐specific antibodies and increased production of type I and II cytokines in response to <italic>L. sigmodontis</italic> antigen and <italic>Bm</italic>Hsp70. In summary, the immunization with <italic>Bm</italic>Hsp70 induced cellular and humoral immune responses and partially protected against <italic>L. sigmodontis</italic> in a challenge infection. Therefore, we hypothesize that <italic>Bm</italic>Hsp70 might be considered as a potential vaccine candidate for reduction in the incidence of <italic>B. malayi</italic> infections in future studies.</p> </abstract>