Active and passive immunization of mice against larval Dirofilaria immitis

The objective of this study was to determine if Dirofilaria immitis larvae would survive in diffusion chambers implanted in dogs and mice and secondly to determine if mice could be immunized against infection with D. immitis. Dirofilaria immitis third-stage larvae (L3) survived and grew in diffusion chambers implanted in dogs and mice for at least 3 wk. BALB/c mice, which were repeatedly infected with live L3, showed resistance to challenge infections. Dead L3, with or without adjuvants elicited no protective immunity. A correlation was found between the degree of immune protection seen in mice and antibody levels to soluble larval antigen but not to antibody levels to surface antigens. A monoclonal antibody was prepared that reacted with the surface of D. immitis and Onchocerca lienalis L3, but not to the surfaces of other stages and species of various filarial worms. When this antibody was administered to mice prior to challenge no significant reduction in larval survival was observed.     

Genetic control of murine immune responses to larval Dirofilaria immitis

Previous studies have demonstrated that BALB/c mice, immunized against infection with Dirofilaria immitis, were capable of killing a significant percentage of challenge larvae found within diffusion chambers. The percentage of larvae killed by immunized mice was, however, less than in immunized dogs and unlike immunized dogs, mice were unable to retard the development of the surviving larvae. The objective of the present study was to test 3 inbred strains of mice to determine whether a higher level of protective immunity would develop in these hosts and if larval growth retardation would occur. DBA/2J and C57BL/6J mice and their F1 hybrids B6D2F1/J were used in these studies; it was determined that there were differences in susceptibility among the 3 strains but no difference in ability to eliminate larvae from challenge infections. Growth retardation was seen in larvae recovered from immunized DBA/2J and C57BL/6J mice but not in B6D2F1/J. No difference was noted between immune and control mice in the cell types found in the diffusion chambers. The predominant cell types seen were mononuclear macrophages, multinucleate syncytial cells, and neutrophils. Antibody responses to soluble third- and fourth-stage larval antigens and larval excretory/secretory antigens were measured. Although antibodies to all 3 antigen groups were found in higher concentrations in immunized mice than in their respective controls, only antibody responses to soluble L-3 antigens provided a clear correlation with protective immunity.     

Induction of protective immunity against Schistosoma mansoni by a non living vaccine. I. Partial characterization of antigens recognized by antibodies from mice immunized with soluble schistosome extracts

A single intradermal injection of frozen and thawed schistosomula in conjunction with the bacterial adjuvant Mycobacterium bovis strain Bacille Calmette Guerin, Phipps substrain (BCG) induced significant levels of resistance to challenge Schistosoma mansoni infection in C57BL/6 mice. Immunization with the aqueous fraction remaining after 100,000 X G centrifugation of the larval lysate was also protective under these conditions, suggesting that some immunogenic determinants may not be membrane associated. Frozen-thawed cercariae and soluble components of adult worms also protected against challenge infection in these experiments. These observations indicate that soluble immunogens are present in both early and late developmental stages of the parasite, and therefore may be good candidate antigens for an immunochemically defined vaccine against schistosomiasis. Induction of humoral reactivity against soluble or membrane antigens was examined in mice protected against cercarial challenge by prior exposure to frozen-thawed larvae, soluble larval, or soluble adult antigens plus BCG. Animals that were immunized with frozen-thawed larvae produced low but significant levels of antibodies against larval surface antigens when examined by indirect immunofluorescence or by immunoprecipitation of surface-labeled schistosomula. Mice immunized with soluble antigens, however, showed negligible antibody reactivity against surface membrane antigens. Because mice immunized with soluble antigens were resistant to challenge infection, these results strongly suggest that anti-surface membrane reactivity is not required in the mechanism of protective immunity in this model. Sera from mice immunized with either total freeze-thaw larval lysate or soluble schistosome extracts all showed strong reactivity against soluble antigens, as detected by ELISA. Western blot analysis showed these antisera to react with a restricted number of high m.w. antigens that were present both in schistosomula and in adult worms. These antigens are therefore likely to play a major role in the development of resistance in this model as immunogens and/or as targets of protective immune response.     

Ultrastructural aspects of immune damage to Hymenolepis nana oncospheres in mice

When Hymenoiepis nana eggs were inoculated orally into unimmunized mice, the oncosphere larvae penetrated the intestinal villi and underwent postembryonic development. The ultra-structural changes during the 48 h after infection were characterized by the development of microvillar protrusions on the surface of the epithelium, development of many membranous vesicles in the epithelium, and proliferation of undifferentiated cells in the parenchyma with a rapid disappearance of penetration gland cells and muscle cells. The epithelium of larvae from a challenge infection of mice that had been immunized by oral infection with eggs was severely damaged as shown by the increased electron density, shrinking of the cytoplasm and formation of large empty vacuoles. Development of microvillar protrusions and intraepithelial vesicles were not seen. Changes of internal structure were similar to those changes seen in the larvae of unimmunized mice. It was evident that host immunity, resulting in the ultimate death of challenge larvae during 24 h after challenge, was primarily directed against the epithelium of the larva. Host cells which firmly adhered to the larva in unimmunized mice were monocytes and macrophages with occasional infiltration of eosinophils and plasma cells, whereas the host cells in immunized mice were almost exclusively eosinophils and macrophages. It was suggested that the degeneration of larvae in immunized mice was caused by the action of specific antibody directed against larval epithelium. The cooperative action of antibody and eosinophils or macrophages in killing challenge larvae was also suggested.     

The intensity and duration of primary Heligmosomoides polygyrusinfection in TO mice modify acquired immunity to secondary challenge

The effect of dose and duration of immunizing infections of Heligmosomoides polygyrus on protection against homologous challenge was studied in female TO mice. Primary infections were terminated at various levels with pyrantel embonate (adult infections) or ivermectin (larval infections) and mice were then challenged with 500 infective larvae (L3). The level of protection to secondary challenge positively correlated with the intensity of the primary immunizing infection but truncation of larval infection produced significantly better protection than termination of the adult nematode infection. The duration of the primary larval infection (1-6 days) positively correlated with the level of protection to secondary challenge, antibody responses and the proportion of circulating eosinophils. Histological changes in the gastrointestinal tract, peripheral leucocytic changes and antibody responses of the mice to H. polygyrus adult somatic antigens indicate both a cellular and humoral basis of host immunity to secondary challenge. Although the TO mice are slow responders in that they harbour chronic infections, immunization by intramucosal killing of the larval stage produced strong protection against secondary challenge infection. The presence of dead immunogenic larval stages within the intestinal wall may well be an important factor, since it exposes the host to stage specific antigens at an appropriate location. The implications of the findings for the control of gastrointestinal nematode infections are also discussed.     

Live virulent Rhodococcus equi, rather than killed or avirulent, elicits protective immunity to R. equi infection in mice

Mice inoculated intravenously with a sublethal dose of live virulent Rhodococcus equi ATCC 33701 that contained an 85-kb virulence plasmid were immune to a lethal intravenous challenge of ATCC 33701. This immunity depended upon the dose of immunization and developed rapidly: mice primed with 10(5) live ATCC 33701 eliminated the challenged bacteria more rapidly than mice primed with doses ranging from 10(2) to 10(4) bacteria, and mice given 10(5) live ATCC 33701 intravenously withstood the lethal challenge as early as 5 days after the initial inoculation. However, this protective immunity did not develop in mice immunized with doses of heat-killed ATCC 33701 ranging from 10(6) to 10(8), or in mice immunized with doses of live ATCC 33701P-, a plasmid-cured derivative (avirulent), in doses ranging from 10(5) to 10(7). These mice had positive antibody titers against R. equi at the challenge (14 days after priming). Adoptive transfer of resistance to virulent R equi was obtained with spleen cells from mice immunized with live ATCC 33701, but not monoclonal antibody to 15- to 17-kDa virulence-associated antigens. These results revealed that live ATCC 33701P-, a plasmid-cured derivative of virulent R equi, could not elicit protective immunity, and are consistent with previous observations that protective immunity was induced by live virulent, but not killed organisms.     

Role of L3T4+ and Lyt-2+ T cell subsets in protective immune responses of mice against infection with a low or high virulent strain of Toxoplasma gondii

In order to elucidate the role of T cell subsets in protective immunity against infection with high virulent and low virulent strains of Toxoplasma gondii, monoclonal antibodies specific for T cell subsets were injected into mice before immunization or challenge infection. Treatment of mice with monoclonal antibody to either L3T4+ or Lyt-2+ T cells before they were immunized with Toxoplasma cell homogenate prepared from high virulent RH strain tachyzoites markedly reduced survival after mice were challenged with low virulent bradyzoites of the Beverley strain. Thus, induction of protective immunity against bradyzoites of the Beverley strain requires the presence of both L3T4+ and Lyt-2+ T cells. In contrast, mice injected with living bradyzoites of the low virulent Beverley strain after immunization with Toxoplasma cell homogenate acquired protective immunity against high virulent tachyzoites of the RH strain. Lyt-2+ T cells alone appear to be final effector cells for protection against the challenge with high virulent RH strain tachyzoites, since treatment of the bradyzoite-immune mice with anti-Lyt-2 antibody, but not anti-L3T4 antibody, before challenge significantly increased mortality.     

日本血吸虫新抗原基因的筛选、克隆、 表达和免疫效果研究

为了寻找日本血吸虫 (Schistosoma japonicum, Sj) 新的疫苗候选基因并进行免疫效果研究,用 Sj 雌虫抗原免疫家兔制备血清,对Sj成虫 cDNA 文库进行免疫筛选,将获得的新基因 ( 命名为Sj-F1, GenBank 登录号为 AY261995) 克隆入原核表达载体 pTWIN1 和真核表达载体 pcDNA3 ,经 PCR 、限制性酶切筛选和鉴定阳性重组子. 将 pTWIN1/Sj-F1 质粒转化大肠杆菌 ER2566,在低温和低 IPTG 浓度下诱导表达可溶性重组融合蛋白 (rSj-F1/intein2),并经 SDS- 聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳 (SDS-PAGE) 和蛋白质印迹 (Western blot) 分析鉴定. 将 pcDNA3/Sj-F1 质粒转化大肠杆菌 ER2502 ,大量制备 DNA 疫苗. 用重组融合蛋白和 DNA 疫苗免疫小鼠,末次免疫后 2 周用Sj尾蚴进行攻击感染. 感染后 42 天剖杀冲虫,计算减虫率和减卵率. 感染前采血用 ELISA 法检测抗体. 免疫保护效果测定显示：重组蛋白疫苗以 FCA 作佐剂经皮下免疫和以壳聚糖作佐剂经粘膜免疫分别获得了 28.07%、 24.69% 的减虫率和 48.30% 、 46.38% 的减卵率; DNA 疫苗 (pcDNA3/Sj-F1) 单独免疫获得了 18.47% 的减虫率和 35.06% 的减卵率;用 DNA 疫苗启动免疫后用重组蛋白疫苗经皮下加强免疫,减虫率和减卵率分别提高到了 40.42% 和 56.17%;用 DNA 疫苗启动免疫后用重组蛋白疫苗经黏膜加强免疫,减虫率和减卵率增高更明显,分别提高到了 42.38% 和 62.87%. 结果表明,Sj-F1 重组蛋白疫苗及 DNA 疫苗均可诱导小鼠产生部分抗血吸虫感染的保护力,两者联合免疫保护效果优于单一疫苗.     

Heligmosomoides polygrus (equals nematospiroides dubius): humoral and intestinal immunologic responses to infection in mice

Measurements of serum IgG₁, IgG_2a, IgM, and IgA levels and antibody titers in these immunoglobulin classes were made at intervals after initial infection and challenge infection of mice immunized by two or three previous infections. Identical measurements were made on the content of the small intestine in mice which had been exposed to the same infection schedule. Sections of small intestine taken after initial infection and challenge infection were examined by the fluorescent antibody technique for changes in populations of immunoglobulin-containing cells and by routine histologic procedures for histopathologic changes.In serum, only IgG₁ was consistently increased after initial infection, and antibody in IgG₁ was detected within the first 2 wk of infection. In immunized animals, only IgG₁ and antibody of this class always responded to challenge infection, although antibody in other immunoglobulin classes was detected.IgA concentration of the intestinal content did not differ significantly after initial infection or challenge infection of immunized mice. Immunized mice had about twice the IgG₁ concentration in intestinal content as singly infected animals. No intestinal antibody was detected after initial infection; only IgG₁ antibody was detected in the intestinal content of immunized and challenged mice.Cell infiltrates in the intestinal mucosa and submucosa of immunized animals contained numerous IgG₁-containing cells. Mast cells and globular leukocytes were observed in the intestine of immunized animals.     

Brugia pahangi in nude mice: protective immunity to infective larvae is Thy 1.2+ cell dependent and cyclosporin A resistant

Mechanisms of protective immunity to larvae of Brugia pahangi were studied in congenitally athymic nude C3H/HeN mice and their syngeneic heterozygous littermates. An average 11% of subcutaneous larval inocula was recovered from control nudes 28 days after inoculation. No worms were recovered from nude recipients of viable splenic Thy 1.2+ T lymphocytes from heterozygotes which had killed a priming dose of B. pahangi larvae. Primed T lymphocytes, depleted of either Lyt 1.1+ or Lyt 2.1+ cells or incubated with anti-Thy 1.2 monoclonal antibody and complement, failed to protect nude mice against a larval challenge. Nor were primed B lymphocytes depleted by Thy 1.2+ T cell contaminants protective. Treatment with cyclosporin A (CsA) did not increase the numbers of worms recovered from heterozygotes nor did CsA treatment of heterozygous cell donors abolish the ability of primed Thy 1.2+ T lymphocytes to transfer protection to nude mice. IgG but not IgM antibody titres to B. pahangi antigens were depressed in all CsA-treated mice. CsA treatment of nude mice had no direct effect upon development of B. pahangi larvae. These results show that protective immunity to larvae of B. pahangi in mice depends upon small numbers of Thy 1.2+ T cells which are CsA-resistant.     

Hymenolepis nana: intestinal tissue phase in actively immunized mice.

We investigated the fate of the intestinal cestode Hymenolepis nana in immunized mice. Immunity was induced by infection with the parasite eggs. These immunized animals and unimmunized controls were then challenged with 50,000 H. nana eggs. The mice were killed 4 to 90 hr after challenge, and H. nana in the intestinal tissue were counted. At 4 hr after challenge the unimmunized and immunized animals had approximately equal numbers of oncospheres. By 12 hr there were fewer parasites in the immunized than in the unimmunized animals. At 90 hr, no H. nana were seen in the immunized mice, whereas in the unimmunized animals the median number of cysticercoids was more than 1,000. It appears, therefore, that in mice well immunized to H. nana by infection, challenge oncospheres can burrow into the intestinal tissue before they are killed. The reduced number of oncospheres in the immunized mice 12 hr after challenge, and the accumulation of eosinophils near individual oncospheres still present, indicate that an immune response to the parasite was taking place. Absence of a lymphocyte infiltration near any of the oncospheres suggests that the mechanism of immunity was not lymphocyte mediated; thus, the histopathology of the reaction is consistent with that of humoral immunity.     

Immunoaffinity-isolated antigens induce protective immunity against larval Strongyloides stercoralis in mice

The objective of this study was to identify soluble protein antigens that would induce protective immunity against infective-stage larvae (L-3) of Strongyloides stercoralis in mice. Deoxycholate (DOC)-soluble proteins derived from L-3, adsorbed to aluminum hydroxide, induced protective immunity in BALB/c mice. The immunized mice generated parasite-specific IgG that could transfer passive immunity to na?ve animals. The protective antibodies bound to parasite antigens found in the muscles and nerve cords of the L-3. An IgG affinity chromatography column generated with IgG from the sera of DOC-immunized mice was used to purify specific larval antigens. Proteins were eluted from the affinity column with sizes of 80, 75, 61, 57, 43, and 32 kDa. This antigen pool stimulated both proliferation and IL-5 production by splenocytes recovered from mice immunized with live L-3. Vaccination of mice with the immunoaffinity-isolated antigens led to significant protective immunity, with 83% of challenge larvae killed. This study demonstrates that IgG-isolated proteins are candidate antigens for a vaccine against larval S. stercoralis.     

Role of Immune Responses against the Envelope and the Core Antigens of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus SIVmne in Protection against Homologous Cloned and Uncloned Virus Challenge in Macaques

We previously showed that envelope (gp160)-based vaccines, used in a live recombinant virus priming and subunit protein boosting regimen, protected macaques against intravenous and intrarectal challenges with the homologous simian immunodeficiency virus SIVmne clone E11S. However, the breadth of protection appears to be limited, since the vaccines were only partially effective against intravenous challenge by the uncloned SIVmne. To examine factors that could affect the breadth and the efficacy of this immunization approach, we studied (i) the effect of priming by recombinant vaccinia virus; (ii) the role of surface antigen gp130; and (iii) the role of core antigens (Gag and Pol) in eliciting protective immunity. Results indicate that (i) priming with recombinant vaccinia virus was more effective than subunit antigen in eliciting protective responses; (ii) while both gp130 and gp160 elicited similar levels of SIV-specific antibodies, gp130 was not as effective as gp160 in protection, indicating a possible role for the transmembrane protein in presenting functionally important epitopes; and (iii) although animals immunized with core antigens failed to generate any neutralizing antibody and were infected upon challenge, their virus load was 50- to 100-fold lower than that of the controls, suggesting the importance of cellular immunity or other core-specific immune responses in controlling acute infection. Complete protection against intravenous infection by the pathogenic uncloned SIVmne was achieved by immunization with both the envelope and the core antigens. These results indicate that immune responses to both antigens may contribute to protection and thus argue for the inclusion of multiple antigens in recombinant vaccine designs.     

An Inactivated Cell Culture Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine (JE-ADVAX) Formulated with Delta Inulin Adjuvant Provides Robust Heterologous Protection against West Nile Encephalitis via Cross-Protective Memory B Cells and Neutralizing Antibody

West Nile virus (WNV), currently the cause of a serious U.S. epidemic, is a mosquito-borne flavivirus and member of the Japanese encephalitis (JE) serocomplex. There is currently no approved human WNV vaccine, and treatment options remain limited, resulting in significant mortality and morbidity from human infection. Given the availability of approved human JE vaccines, this study asked whether the JE-ADVAX vaccine, which contains an inactivated cell culture JE virus antigen formulated with Advax delta inulin adjuvant, could provide heterologous protection against WNV infection in wild-type and β2-microglobulin-deficient (β2m^−/−) murine models. Mice immunized twice or even once with JE-ADVAX were protected against lethal WNV challenge even when mice had low or absent serum cross-neutralizing WNV titers prior to challenge. Similarly, β2m^−/− mice immunized with JE-ADVAX were protected against lethal WNV challenge in the absence of CD8⁺ T cells and prechallenge WNV antibody titers. Protection against WNV could be adoptively transferred to naive mice by memory B cells from JE-ADVAX-immunized animals. Hence, in addition to increasing serum cross-neutralizing antibody titers, JE-ADVAX induced a memory B-cell population able to provide heterologous protection against WNV challenge. Heterologous protection was reduced when JE vaccine antigen was administered alone without Advax, confirming the importance of the adjuvant to induction of cross-protective immunity. In the absence of an approved human WNV vaccine, JE-ADVAX could provide an alternative approach for control of a major human WNV epidemic.     

Ribonucleic acid in the immune response

Summary In the studies of experimental salmonellosis, immunization of mice with a live vaccine SER of S. enteritidis was found to be effective against further infection with virulent S. enteritidis 116-54. Macrophages obtained from the peritoneal cavity, subcutaneous tissue or liver of immunized mice inhibited intracellular growth of bacteria and resisted cell degeneration caused by engulfment of virulent 116-54 bacteria. This immunity was called cellular immunity.We discovered by chance in 1961 a transfer agent of immunity (TA) from the culture fluid of immunized macrophages. This agent is RNA in nature and can be extracted from the spleen, peritoneal exudate cells or the lymph node of immunized animals and is called immune (i) RNA. We could demonstrate antibody activity in macrophages treated in vitro or in vivo with iRNA by the immune adherence hemagglutination technique.Cellular immunity against tumor cells could be transferred in vitro or in vivo to lymphocytes through iRNA prepared from the spleen cells of syngeneic, allogeneic and xenogeneic animals immunized with the tumor cells.We prepared iRNA against antigens capable of inducing humoral antibody production in animals, i.e., RBCs, bacterial toxin, bacterial flagella and hapten-protein conjugates. Serum antibody was not demonstrated in recipient animals of iRNAs by single or repeated injections of these agents. However, in these animals an increase in the number of specific antibody-carrying cells was found as rosette-formers. It was found further that prior injection of iRNA could induce immunologic memory and produced a high titer of humoral antibody after a boosting stimulation with a small dose of the corresponding antigen. The required interval between the first iRNA and the second antigenic stimulation, and the minimal effective doses of iRNA and antigen are described.We studied the interaction of iRNA with either T- or B-cells and with both cells using adoptive transfer system, athymic nude mice and neonatally thymectomized (NT) mice. Immune RNAs against T-dependent and T-independent antigens could not induce the proliferation of antibody-carrying cells in cyclophosphamide-treated (B-cell depleted) mice. But these agents could induce the proliferation of rosette-formers, implying that iRNAs can replace some role of T-cells even against T-dependent antigens. B-cells can be directly activated by treatment with iRNA against both T-dependent and T-independent antigens, and they differentiated into rosette-formers.Passive transfers of iRNA were successful in establishing immunity against infection with S. enteritidis, or immunity to Salmonella flagella, RBCs and hapten-protein conjugates. The ability of iRNA to confer a secondary response of antibody formation is serially and passively transmissible in recipient animals. These facts suggest the presence of some mechanism that is responsible for the amplification of antigenic stimulation in the immune response. The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and RNA-dependent DNA polymerase are presented and their role in the immune response is discussed.     

The role of gamma interferon in acquired host resistance against Staphylococcus aureus infection in mice

We investigated the expression of an acquired host resistance against Staphylococcus aureus infection in mice. When C57BL/6 mice were immunized with viable S. aureus and challenged with S. aureus eight weeks later, the elimination of S. aureus from the spleen and liver was enhanced in the immunized mice compared with the nonimmunized mice. When gamma interferon (IFN-gamma(-/-)) mice were immunized and challenged, the bacterial numbers in the organs of immunized mice were comparable to those in the nonimmunized mice, suggesting that IFN-gamma plays a critical role in an acquired host resistance against S. aureus infection. IFN-gamma(-/-) mice produced the lower level of anti-S. aureus immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG2a antibodies compared with C57BL/6 mice. To elucidate the role of IFN-gamma produced during a challenge with S. aureus, a single injection of anti-IFN-gamma monoclonal antibody to mice was carried out 1 h before challenge. An acquired resistance against S. aureus infection was inhibited by injecting with anti-IFN-gamma monoclonal antibody. However, anti-IFN-gamma monoclonal antibody treatment failed to modulate anti-S. aureus IgM, IgG1 or IgG2a responses in these animals. These results demonstrated that IFN-gamma is required for an acquired resistance against S. aureus infection in mice. However, IFN-gamma induced during the challenge failed to affect the secondary antibody responses.     

Immunization against geographical isolates of Trichinella spiralis in mice.

Partially purified antigen preparations from six isolates of Trichinella spiralis were used to immunize mice. Immunogenicity of the antigens was assessed in terms of antibody and lymphocyte responses and ability to stimulate protective immunity against challenge. Isolate antigens showed considerable cross-reactivity, and all elicited protective responses. Two major patterns of immunizing ability could be distinguished: (a) isolates that immunized well against heterologous challenge and elicited good immunity in London isolate-immunized mice (C-76 and Laso), and (b) isolates that immunized poorly against heterologous challenge and were least effective in London isolate-immunized mice (GM-1 and Mad-83). The immunogenicity of one isolate (C-76) was markedly greater than the others, inducing rapid loss in unvaccinated mice, almost complete protection in London isolate-immunized mice, and immunity in London isolate-challenged mice equivalent to the homologous antigen. These variations in immunogenicity, cross-reactivity and immunizing ability are discussed in terms of constraints that may operate against the development and use of vaccines against parasites that are widely distributed geographically.     

Effect of immunization with lipid associated polysaccharide antigen and anti CD-2 antibodies on class II MHC expression and cellular immune response in BALB/C mice infected with Leishmania donovani

In a bid to characterize the antigens and immunization mechanisms which may be used to produce a protective response against L. donovani, role of lipid associated polysaccharide (LPS) antigen and whole antigen was evaluated. BALB/C mice were immunized with whole or LPS antigen in combination with one of three putative adjuvents (anti CD-2 antibody/FIA/0.85% Saline). LPS antigen emulsified in anti CD-2 antibody was found to induce significant antibodies in mice on day 28 against challenge with lethal dose of L. donovani. Immunoprophylactic properties of LPS and whole antigen was investigated on day 40 through cytokine elicitation (IL-2), MIF) in culture supernatants of spleen cells, but before that MHC-II expressed on macrophage was studied. The LPS antigen in combination with anti CD-2 antibody was found to be most immuno-reactive inducing higher MHC-II expression on macrophages which was associated with substantial rise in the level of MIF and IL-2. It coincided with decline in antibody titre in 100% mice immunized with LPS antigen while Leishmania injected as whole antigen failed to induce specific macrophage and T-cell response with all the above formulations. We surmise from our data that lipid associated polysaccharide antigen linked to anti CD-2 antibody has potential for eliciting protective immunity against Leishmania.     

Induction of protective immunity against Schistosoma mansoni by a nonliving vaccine. III. Correlation of resistance with induction of activated larvacidal macrophages

Mice protected against Schistosoma mansoni infection by intradermal (i.d.) immunization with nonliving larval or adult worm antigens plus bacterial adjuvant developed 24-hr skin test responsiveness to schistosome antigens with the histologic features of delayed hypersensitivity. Intraperitoneal antigen injection elicited a mononuclear cell-enriched exudative population containing macrophages activated for direct cytotoxicity against schistosomula and tumor cell targets. This was likely to be due to in vivo exposure to macrophage-activating lymphokines, since these cells were unresponsive to further lymphokine stimulation in vitro and splenocytes from immunized mice reacted to specific in vitro antigen challenge by production of lymphokines capable of conferring larvacidal activity upon control macrophages. In contrast, mice treated with schistosome antigens by i.v. injection, which were not protected against challenge infection, failed to develop delayed hypersensitivity or activated macrophages in response to specific antigen challenge in vivo, and the titers of macrophage-activating lymphokine produced by in vitro antigen-stimulated splenocytes from these mice were threefold to fourfold lower than those produced by cells from animals immunized by the i.d. route. Thus, sensitization for cell-mediated immune responses including lymphokine production and macrophage activation correlated with induction of resistance to S. mansoni in this model of vaccination.     

Immune response of rhesus macaques to recombinant simian immunodeficiency virus gp130 does not protect from challenge infection.

Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection of rhesus macaques is a model for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in humans. Inactivated and modified live whole-virus vaccines have provided limited protective immunity against SIV in rhesus macaques. Because of safety concerns in the use of inactivated and live whole-virus vaccines, we evaluated the protective immunity of vaccinia virus recombinants expressing the surface glycoprotein (gp130) of SIVmac and subunit preparations of gp130 expressed in mammalian cells (CHO). Three groups of animals were immunized with recombinant SIV gp130. The first group received SIV gp130 purified from genetically engineered CHO cells (cSIVgp130), the second group was vaccinated with recombinant vaccinia virus expressing SIVmac gp130 (vSIVgp130), and the third group was first primed with vSIVgp130 and then given a booster immunization with cSIVgp130. Although anti-gp130 binding antibodies were elicited in all three groups, neutralizing antibodies were transient or undetectable. None of the immunized animals resisted intravenous challenge with a low dose of cell-free virus. However, the group primed with vSIVgp130 and then boosted with cSIVgp130 had the lowest antigen load (p27) compared with the other groups. The results of these studies suggest that immunization of humans with HIV type 1 surface glycoprotein may not provide protective immunity against virus infection.