Abstract

NASCIMENTO, Eduardo JM et al. Assessment of a DNA vaccine encoding an anchored-glycosylphosphatidylinositol tegumental antigen complexed to protamine sulphate on immunoprotection against murine schistosomiasis. Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz [online]. 2007, vol.102, n.1, pp. 21-27. ISSN 0074-0276.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02762007000100003.

Protamine sulphate/DNA complexes have been shown to protect DNA from DNase digestion in a lipid system for gene transfer. A DNA-based vaccine complexed to protamine sulphate was used to induce an immune response against Schistosoma mansoni anchored-glycosylphosphatidylinositol tegumental antigen in BALB/c mice. The protection elicited ranged from 33 to 44%. The spectrum of the elicited immune response induced by the vaccine formulation without protamine was characterized by a high level of IgG (IgG₁> IgG_2a). Protamine sulphate added to the DNA vaccine formulation retained the green fluorescent protein encoding-plasmid longer in muscle and spleen. The experiments in vivo showed that under protamine sulphate effect, the scope of protection remained unchanged, but a modulation in antibody production (IgG₁= IgG_2a) was observed.

Keywords : DNA vaccines; pECL; protamine sulphate; schistosomiasis.