Abstract
Trypanosomes cause African sleeping sickness, affecting millions of humans and animals. We tested trypanosome microtubule-associate protein (MAP p15) as a vaccine in mice, and show that p15 (native or recombinant) generated up to 100% protection from an otherwise lethal challenge of a heterologous strain of Trypanosoma brucei. We also tested the adenovirus as a vaccine delivery system and show that both adenoviral vector containing p15 gene or control adenovirus containing lacZ gene generated a protective response and exhibited strong CD8+ T-cell proliferation. These results suggest that the p15 protein itself is an effective vaccine and that the adenovirus may be used to mount a non-specific cellular immune response.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adenoviridae / genetics
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Animals
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Blotting, Southern
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Blotting, Western
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Humans
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Immunity, Cellular
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Male
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Mice
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Microtubule-Associated Proteins / genetics
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Microtubule-Associated Proteins / immunology*
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Plasmids
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Protozoan Proteins / genetics
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Protozoan Proteins / immunology*
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Protozoan Vaccines / administration & dosage
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Protozoan Vaccines / immunology*
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Recombinant Proteins / genetics
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Recombinant Proteins / immunology
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Time Factors
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Transfection
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Trypanosoma brucei brucei / immunology*
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Trypanosoma brucei brucei / isolation & purification
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Trypanosomiasis, African / immunology*
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Trypanosomiasis, African / prevention & control
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Vaccines, DNA / administration & dosage
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Vaccines, DNA / immunology
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beta-Galactosidase / blood
Substances
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Microtubule-Associated Proteins
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Protozoan Proteins
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Protozoan Vaccines
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Recombinant Proteins
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Vaccines, DNA
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beta-Galactosidase