RESUMEN
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic spirochetes of theLeptospira genus. Vaccination with bacterins has severe limitations. Here, we evaluated the N-terminal region of the leptospiral immunoglobulin-like B protein (LigBrep) as a vaccine candidate against leptospirosis using immunisation strategies based on DNA prime-protein boost, DNA vaccine, and subunit vaccine. Upon challenge with a virulent strain ofLeptospira interrogans, the prime-boost and DNA vaccine approaches induced significant protection in hamsters, as well as a specific IgG antibody response and sterilising immunity. Although vaccination with recombinant fragment of LigBrep also produced a strong antibody response, it was not immunoprotective. These results highlight the potential of LigBrep as a candidate antigen for an effective vaccine against leptospirosis and emphasise the use of the DNA prime-protein boost as an important strategy for vaccine development.
Asunto(s)
Animales , Cricetinae , Femenino , Antígenos Bacterianos/inmunología , Proteínas Bacterianas/inmunología , Vacunas Bacterianas/inmunología , Leptospira/inmunología , Leptospirosis/prevención & control , Vacunación/métodos , Adyuvantes Inmunológicos , Biopsia , Chlorocebus aethiops , Secuencia Conservada , Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática , Inmunidad Humoral/inmunología , Inmunoglobulina A/genética , Inmunoglobulina A/inmunología , Inmunoglobulina G/inmunología , Inmunoglobulinas/genética , Inmunoglobulinas/inmunología , Riñón/patología , Leptospirosis/inmunología , Pulmón/patología , Mesocricetus , Análisis de Supervivencia , Células Vero , Vacunas de ADN/inmunología , Vacunas Sintéticas/inmunología , Vacunas Sintéticas/microbiologíaRESUMEN
We studied the feasibility of using halloysite clay nanotubes (HNTs) and carboxyl-functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotubes (COOH-MWCNTs) as antigen carriers to improve immune responses against a recombinant LipL32 protein (rLipL32). Immunisation using the HNTs or COOH-MWCNTs significantly increased the rLipL32-specific IgG antibody titres (p < 0.05) of Golden Syrian hamsters. None of the vaccines tested conferred protection against a challenge using a virulent Leptospira interrogans strain. These results demonstrated that nanotubes can be used as antigen carriers for delivery in hosts and the induction of a humoral immune response against purified leptospiral antigens used in subunit vaccine preparations.