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Infection and Immunity, November 2003, p. 6270-6278, Vol. 71, No. 11
0019-9567/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/IAI.71.11.6270-6278.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

DNA Immunization with the Gene Encoding P4 Nuclease of Leishmania amazonensis Protects Mice against Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Kimberly Campbell,1 Hong Diao,1 Jiaxiang Ji,1 and Lynn Soong1,2*

Departments of Microbiology and Immunology,1 Pathology, Sealy Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-10702

Received 27 May 2003/ Returned for modification 4 July 2003/ Accepted 8 August 2003

Infection with the protozoan parasite Leishmania amazonensis can cause diverse clinical forms of leishmaniasis. Immunization with purified P4 nuclease protein has been shown to elicit a protective response in mice challenged with L. amazonensis and L. pifanoi. To explore the potential of a DNA-based vaccine, we tested the L. amazonensis gene encoding P4 nuclease as well as adjuvant constructs encoding murine interleukin-12 (IL-12) and L. amazonensis HSP70. Susceptible BALB/c mice were immunized with the DNA encoding P4 alone, P4/IL-12, or P4/HSP70 prior to challenge with L. amazonensis promastigotes. Mice given P4/IL-12 exhibited no lesion development and had a 3- to 4-log reduction in tissue parasite burdens compared to controls. This protection corresponded to significant increases in gamma interferon and tumor necrosis factor alpha production and a reduction in parasite-specific immunoglobulin G1, suggesting an enhancement in Th1 responses. Moreover, we immunized mice with the L. amazonensis vaccines to determine if this vaccine regimen could provide cross-protection against a genetically diverse species, L. major. While the P4/HSP70 vaccine led to self-healing lesions, the P4/IL-12 vaccine provided negligible protection against L. major infection. This is the first report of successful use of a DNA vaccine to induce protection against L. amazonensis infection. Additionally, our results indicate that different vaccine combinations, including DNA encoding P4, HSP70, or IL-12, can provide significant protection against both Old World and New World cutaneous leishmaniasis.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Medical Research Building, 3.132, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-1070. Phone: (409) 772-8149. Fax: (409) 747-6869. E-mail: lysoong{at}utmb.edu.

Editor: W. A. Petri, Jr.

Infection and Immunity, November 2003, p. 6270-6278, Vol. 71, No. 11
0019-9567/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/IAI.71.11.6270-6278.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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