LmjMAPK10 offers protection against Leishmania donovani infection

Parasite Immunol. 2020 Feb;42(2):e12687. doi: 10.1111/pim.12687.

Abstract

Aims: This study aimed at evaluating the DNA vaccination efficacy of Leishmania major-derived MAPK10 against Leishmania donovani infection.

Methods and results: MAPK10 is one of the 15 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) of Leishmania major. Herein, we expressed the gene through a mammalian vector and tested whether priming with this gene would offer protection against L donovani infection. We report that LmjMAPK10 DNA vaccination using a mammalian expression vector significantly reduces the parasite burden. The protection is accompanied by host-protective T-cell functions, TH 1-type cytokines and elevated leishmanial antigen-specific IgG2a isotype response. T-cell response to the L donovani/challenge infection is associated with increase in IL-12 and IFN-γ, but reduced IL-10 and IL-4 production.

Conclusions: LmjMAPK10 is cross-protective against L donovani infection.

Keywords: Leishmania donovani; MAPK10; anti-leishmanial vaccine; host-protective immune response; visceral leishmaniasis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-10 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-12 Subunit p35 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-4 / biosynthesis
  • Leishmania donovani / genetics
  • Leishmania donovani / immunology*
  • Leishmaniasis Vaccines / immunology*
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / immunology
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / prevention & control*
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / parasitology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 10 / genetics
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 10 / immunology*
  • Protozoan Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics
  • Protozoan Proteins / immunology*
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Vaccines, DNA / immunology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • IFNG protein, mouse
  • IL10 protein, mouse
  • Il12a protein, mouse
  • Il4 protein, mouse
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Interleukin-12 Subunit p35
  • Leishmaniasis Vaccines
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Vaccines, DNA
  • Interleukin-10
  • Interleukin-4
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 10