Vaccination of BALB/c mice with Leishmania donovani derived lipophosphoglycan does not conver cross-protection to L. major infections

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether Leishmania donovani-derived lipophosphoglycan (LPG) can confer cross-protection to L. major in susceptible BALB/c mice model. Methods: BALB/c mice were immunised with a total dose of 30μg of LPG plus 150μl of mycobacterium bovis Bacille Calmette guerin (BCG) and later challenged with virulent L. Major parasites. Results: This study demonstrated an activation of both the humoral as well as cell-mediated response to LPG mixed with BCG which correlated with resistance against the disease. However, immunised mice were not protected compared to their PBS controls. Conclusion: Though L. donovani infections have been shown to confer cross-protection to L. major this may not be true for purified antigens.