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Abstract
The potential of autoclaved and heat-killed antigen of Leishmania donovani to induce
cell-mediated and humoral response has been evaluated in the present study. The vaccines
were delivered thrice subcutaneously at an interval of 2 weeks. Two weeks after second
booster, BALB/c mice were challenged with 10(7) stationary phase promastigotes of
L. donovani. Significant protection was achieved in immunized mice against L. donovani
challenge with 69% to 76% and 59% to 64% reduction in parasite load in the liver and
spleen respectively. Immunization induced significantly higher level of delayed type
hypersensitivity (DTH) response in mice immunized with heat-killed antigen followed
by autoclaved antigen. The immune response was assessed by quantifying Leishmania-specific
antibodies and cytokine production. The antibody response was predominantly of IgG
type with increased IgG2a production and lesser amount of IgM. The immunization preferentially
stimulates the production of IFN-gamma and IL-2 in splenocytes which suggests a Th1
type response with a concomitant down-regulation of IL-10 and IL-4. These results
indicate a potential for the heat-killed and autoclaved antigen as a vaccine which
could trigger cell-mediated immune response.