Protection of gerbils from amebic liver abscess by vaccination with a 25-mer peptide derived from the cysteine-rich region of Entamoeba histolytica galactose-specific adherence lectin.

Abstract

The protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica causes extensive morbidity and mortality through intestinal infection and amebic liver abscess. Here we show that immunization of gerbils with a single keyhole limpet hemocyanin-coupled 25-mer peptide derived from the 170-kDa subunit of the E. histolytica galactose-binding adhesin is sufficient to confer substantial protection against experimentally induced amebic liver abscesses. Vaccination provided total protection in 5 of 15 immunized gerbils, and abscesses were significantly smaller (P < 0.01) in the remaining vaccinated animals. The degree of protection correlated with the titer of antibodies to the peptide, and results of passive transfer experiments performed with SCID mice were consistent with a role for antibodies in protection. In addition, parenteral or oral vaccination of gerbils with 13-amino-acid subfragments of the peptide N-terminally fused to the B subunit of cholera toxin also significantly inhibited liver abscess formation (P < 0.05). These data indicate that small peptides derived from the galactose-binding adhesin administered by the parenteral or oral route can provide protection against amebic liver abscess and should be considered as components of a subunit vaccine against invasive amoebiasis.

• Authors: H Lotter, F Khajawa, S L Stanley Jr, E Tannich
• Journal: Infection and immunity (Infect Immun) Vol. 68 Issue 8 Pg. 4416-21 (Aug 2000) ISSN: 0019-9567 [Print] United States
• PMID: 10899838 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Adjuvants, Immunologic
• Lectins
• Membrane Glycoproteins
• Peptide Fragments
• Protozoan Proteins
• Protozoan Vaccines
• Recombinant Fusion Proteins
• galactose inhibitable adherence protein, Entamoeba histolytica
• Cholera Toxin
• Hemocyanins
• keyhole-limpet hemocyanin
• Cysteine

Topics

• Adjuvants, Immunologic
• Administration, Oral
• Animals
• Cholera Toxin (genetics, immunology)
• Cysteine
• Female
• Gerbillinae
• Hemocyanins
• Immunization, Passive
• Lectins (genetics, immunology, therapeutic use)
• Liver Abscess, Amebic (prevention & control)
• Membrane Glycoproteins (genetics, immunology, therapeutic use)
• Mice
• Mice, SCID
• Peptide Fragments (genetics, immunology, therapeutic use)
• Protozoan Proteins (genetics, immunology, therapeutic use)
• Protozoan Vaccines (genetics, immunology, therapeutic use)
• Recombinant Fusion Proteins (immunology, therapeutic use)
• Vaccination