Biomaterial Database

Immunoprophylaxis and immunotherapy against experimental visceral leishmaniasis. 1999

S Mukhopadhyay, and P Sen, and S Bhattacharyya, and S Majumdar, and S Roy

Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Calcutta, India.

The ability of the Leishmanial parasite, UR6 (MHOM/IN/1978/UR6) to act as a immunoprophylactic and immunotherapeutic agent against experimental visceral leishmaniasis in a hamster model was tested. The Leishmanial parasite, UR6, lacked LPG but possessed abundant message for kinetoplastid membrane protein-11 (KMP-11), and failed to induce visceral infection when given through the intracardiac route, unlike the virulent Leishmania donovani, AG83 (MHOM/IN/1983/AG83), the causative agent of Kala-azar. Priming of macrophage with UR6 in vitro, induced superoxide (O2-) generation whereas a similar experiment with virulent AG83 inhibited O2- generation. This observation prompted us to test the efficacy of UR6 as a immunoprophylactic and immunotherapeutic agent. It was observed that priming of hamsters with either live or sonicated UR6 in the absence of any adjuvant provided strong protection against subsequent virulent challenge. The UR6 mediated protection was also observed in hamsters having established infection. Furthermore, UR6 primed infected hamsters displayed a greatly extended life span as compared to infected hamsters. To our knowledge, this is the first report concerning the use of an atypical Leishmanial parasite, UR6 in immunoprophylaxis and immunotherapy in the absence of any adjuvant.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007167	Immunotherapy	Manipulation of the host's immune system in treatment of disease. It includes both active and passive immunization as well as immunosuppressive therapy to prevent graft rejection.	Immunotherapies
D007274	Injections, Intraperitoneal	Forceful administration into the peritoneal cavity of liquid medication, nutrient, or other fluid through a hollow needle piercing the abdominal wall.	Intraperitoneal Injections,Injection, Intraperitoneal,Intraperitoneal Injection
D007279	Injections, Subcutaneous	Forceful administration under the skin of liquid medication, nutrient, or other fluid through a hollow needle piercing the skin.	Subcutaneous Injections,Injection, Subcutaneous,Subcutaneous Injection
D007893	Leishmania donovani	A parasitic hemoflagellate of the subgenus Leishmania leishmania that infects man and animals and causes visceral leishmaniasis (LEISHMANIASIS, VISCERAL). The sandfly genera Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia are the vectors.	Leishmania (Leishmania) donovani,Leishmania leishmania donovani,Leishmania donovanus,Leishmania leishmania donovanus,donovani, Leishmania leishmania,donovanus, Leishmania,donovanus, Leishmania leishmania,leishmania donovanus, Leishmania
D007898	Leishmaniasis, Visceral	A chronic disease caused by LEISHMANIA DONOVANI and transmitted by the bite of several sandflies of the genera Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia. It is commonly characterized by fever, chills, vomiting, anemia, hepatosplenomegaly, leukopenia, hypergammaglobulinemia, emaciation, and an earth-gray color of the skin. The disease is classified into three main types according to geographic distribution: Indian, Mediterranean (or infantile), and African.	Black Fever,Kala-Azar,Fever, Black,Kala Azar,Visceral Leishmaniasis
D006224	Cricetinae	A subfamily in the family MURIDAE, comprising the hamsters. Four of the more common genera are Cricetus, CRICETULUS; MESOCRICETUS; and PHODOPUS.	Cricetus,Hamsters,Hamster
D006321	Heart	The hollow, muscular organ that maintains the circulation of the blood.	Hearts
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013481	Superoxides	Highly reactive compounds produced when oxygen is reduced by a single electron. In biological systems, they may be generated during the normal catalytic function of a number of enzymes and during the oxidation of hemoglobin to METHEMOGLOBIN. In living organisms, SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE protects the cell from the deleterious effects of superoxides.	Superoxide Radical,Superoxide,Superoxide Anion
D014774	Virulence	The degree of pathogenicity within a group or species of microorganisms or viruses as indicated by case fatality rates and/or the ability of the organism to invade the tissues of the host. The pathogenic capacity of an organism is determined by its VIRULENCE FACTORS.	Pathogenicity