The development of a vaccination model using two microorganisms and its application in leprosy and leishmaniasis

Abstract

The microorganisms causing leprosy and leishmaniasis are both intracellular pathogens in the human host, infecting principally cells of macrophage lineage; there is abundant evidence that effective protective immunity to both pathogens depends upon T-lymphocyte mediated reactivity. The vaccination model which has been developed and evaluated in our studies is oriented toward correcting this antigen-specific deficiency in affected patients through the presentation of heat-inactivated specific and non-specific antigens of the infective microorganism together with viable BCG. Both immunotherapeutic and immuno-prophylactic applications of this model are discussed in this paper.