AIMS We investigated the protective effect of chitin micro-particle (CMP) as an adjuvant against Leishmania infection in BALB/c mice. METHODS Mice were immunized subcutaneously with soluble Leishmania antigen (SLA) plus CMP (100 µg SLA + 100 µg CMP/100 µL) as the test group. Three weeks after the last immunization, test and control groups were infected by Leishmania major (L major). Eight weeks post-infection, evaluation of parasites load in lymph nodes was performed using limiting dilution assay. Then, the spleen cell cytokine response (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, IL-17 and IL-27) to SLA among vaccinated and nonvaccinated groups was investigated using ELISA. Serum levels of IgG1 and IgG2a were measured as well. RESULTS The SLA plus CMP group demonstrated the protection. The responses included reduced lesion formation and lower parasite load. Also, in comparison with control group higher levels of IFN-γ and, IL-10 in the culture of spleen cells, and lower levels of IgG1 in sera were seen in SLA plus CMP group. CONCLUSION The data supported the possibility of using CMP as a suitable adjuvant in Leishmania vaccination.

中文翻译：

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几丁质微粒和利什曼原虫抗原的共同给药提出了一种针对实验性利什曼病的新型免疫佐剂。

目的我们研究了几丁质微粒（CMP）作为抗BALB / c小鼠利什曼原虫感染的佐剂的保护作用。方法采用可溶性利什曼原虫抗原（SLA）+ CMP（100 µg SLA + 100 µg CMP / 100 µL）皮下免疫小鼠。在最后一次免疫后三周，测试组和对照组被大利什曼原虫（L大）感染。感染后八周，使用有限稀释法评估淋巴结中的寄生虫负荷。然后，使用ELISA研究了接种组和未接种组之间的脾细胞对SLA的细胞因子应答（TNF-α，IFN-γ，IL-4，IL-10，IL-17和IL-27）。还测量了IgG1和IgG2a的血清水平。结果SLA加CMP组表现出保护作用。反应包括减少病变形成和降低寄生虫负荷。另外，与对照组相比，在SLA加CMP组中，脾细胞培养物中的IFN-γ和IL-10水平较高，而血清中IgG1水平较低。结论数据支持使用CMP作为利什曼原虫疫苗的合适佐剂的可能性。