Characterization of the immunostimulatory properties of Leishmania infantum HSP70 by fusion to the Escherichia coli maltose-binding protein in normal and nu/nu BALB/c mice
Abstract
Leishmania infantum HSP70 has been described as an immunodominant antigen in both humans and dogs suffering from visceral leishmaniasis. In this study, we used L. infantum HSP70 fused to Escherichia coli maltose-binding protein (MBP), as the reporter protein, to analyze the influence of HSP70 on the immunogenicity of MBP in BALB/c mice. Plasmids were constructed to produce the three recombinant proteins used in this study, namely, MBP, L. infantum HSP70, and MBP-HSP70, which consists of MBP fused to the L. infantum HSP70 amino terminus. Immunization of BALB/c mice with the MBP-HSP70 fusion protein elicited humoral and cellular responses against MBP that were higher by an order of magnitude than those elicited by immunization with MBP alone or with a mixture of MBP and HSP70. Covalent linkage of MBP to HSP70 was essential for eliciting a strong anti-MBP immune response. Cytokine secretion and immunoglobulin G isotype analyses indicated that immunization with the MBP-HSP70 fusion protein preferentially induces a Th1 immune response. Immunization of athymic nu/nu mice with the MBP-HSP70 fusion protein unexpectedly gave rise to an anti-MBP humoral response showing features of a T-cell-dependent response. Thus, we present evidence t...Continue Reading
References
Citations
Related Concepts
Related Feeds
Avian Influenza: Innate Immune Adjuvant
Adjuvants systems that are added to vaccines against avian influenza have be explored to enhance the innate immune system response against the virus. Here is the latest research on avian influenza and the innate immune adjuvant.
Antibody Specificity
Antibodies produced by B cells are highly specific for antigen as a result of random gene recombination and somatic hypermutation and affinity maturation. As the main effector of the humoral immune system, antibodies can neutralize foreign cells. Find the latest research on antibody specificity here.
Avian Influenza: Innate Immune Adjuvant (ASM)
Adjuvants systems that are added to vaccines against avian influenza have be explored to enhance the innate immune system response against the virus. Here is the latest research on avian influenza and the innate immune adjuvant.