| 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
(Affiliation: Department of Molecular Parasitology, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany.)
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| Journal | Infection and immunity
(Infect Immun)
Vol. 68
Issue 8
Pg. 4416-21
(Aug 2000)
ISSN: 0019-9567 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
- keyhole-limpet hemocyanin
- Cysteine
- Cholera Toxin
- Hemocyanin
|
| Topics |
- Adjuvants, Immunologic
- Administration, Oral
- Animals
- Cholera Toxin
(genetics, immunology)
- Cysteine
- Female
- Gerbillinae
- Hemocyanin
- 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
|
