IL12 p35 and p40 subunit genes administered as pPAL plasmid constructs do not improve protection of pPAL-LACK vaccine against canine leishmaniasis

PLoS One. 2019 Feb 22;14(2):e0212136. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212136. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Leishmania infantum causes zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (ZVL) in the Mediterranean basin and South America. The parasite has been shown to co-infect HIV patients and an outbreak in central Spain was reported in the last decade. Therfore, ZVL is a public health problem, dogs being the parasite's reservoir. We have developed a DNA vaccine based on the L. infantum activated protein kinase A receptor (LACK) using different plasmid vectors and vaccinia virus strains as vehicles. Recently, we have generated an antibiotic resistance marker-free plasmid vector called pPAL. Homologous pPAL-LACK prime-boost vaccination protects Beagle dogs as well as a heterologous plasmid-virus regime. For both reasons, pPAL improves safety. IL12 was described to trigger Th1 response through IFN-γ production in infected dogs, being a good candidate for cytokine therapy in conventional treatment-unresponsive dogs. Herein, we report a complete protection study in dogs through inoculation of genes encoding for the p35 and p40 subunits which compose canine IL12 in combination with the LACK gene. A homologous plasmid-plasmid regime using independent pPAL constructs for each gene was inoculated in a 15-day interval. The infectious challenge using L. infantum promastigotes was successful. The outcome was pPAL-LACK vaccine protection suppression by IL12 administration. The important implications of this finding are discussed in the manuscript.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Dogs
  • Female
  • Immunity, Humoral
  • Interleukin-12 / genetics*
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • Protein Subunits / genetics*
  • Protozoan Vaccines / genetics*
  • Protozoan Vaccines / immunology*

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Protein Subunits
  • Protozoan Vaccines
  • Interleukin-12

Grants and funding

This study was performed with funds received by VL through a contract with CZ Veterinaria - Biofabri (http://www.czveterinaria.com/). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.