RESUMO
Partially purified antigenic fractions of Leishmania major promastigotes were obtained by sodium dodecyl sulfate [SDS-PAGE] and electro-elution. Three isolated protein fractions designated as fractions [Fr.] 1, 2, and 3 correspond to 40-60, 60-80, 80-100 kilodalton [kDa] respectively. They were used for immunization of BALB/c mice against Leishmaniasis. The effects of these fractions on immune response of BALB/c mice against leishmanial infections was investigated by studying the infection course in infected mice, delayed type hypersensitivity [DTH] skin test, lymphocyte proliferation assay [LTT] in them. Subcutaneous immunization of mice with fraction 2 in conjugation with Complete Freund's Adjuvant [CFA] developed partial immunity against Leishmania major infection, and induced specific DTH response. Meanwhile this fraction exhibited no exacerbating effect on leishmanial infection course. Subeutaneous immunization with fraction 1 also induced partial protection in lesser extent than fraction 2 against leishmanial infection