TheLeishmaniaHSP20 Is Antigenic during Natural Infections, but, as DNA Vaccine, It does not Protect BALB/c Mice against ExperimentalL. amazonensisInfection

[摘要] Protozoa of the genusLeishmaniaare causative agents of leishmaniasis, an important health problem in both human and veterinary medicine. Here, we describe a new heat shock protein (HSP) inLeishmania, belonging to the small HSP (sHSP) family in kinetoplastids. The protein is highly conserved in differentLeishmaniaspecies, showing instead significant divergence with sHSP's from other organisms. The humoral response elicited against this protein duringLeishmaniainfection has been investigated in natural infected humans and dogs, and in experimentally infected hamsters.LeishmaniaHSP20 is a prominent antigen for canine hosts; on the contrary, the protein seems to be a poor antigen for human immune system. Time-course analysis of appearance of anti-HSP20 antibodies in golden hamsters indicated that these antibodies are produced at late stages of the infection, when clinical symptoms of disease are patent. Finally, the protective efficacy of HSP20 was assessed in mice using a DNA vaccine approach prior to challenge withLeishmania amazonensis.

[学科分类] 基础医学