A multivalent recombinant fusion protein prophylactic vaccine, rBmHAXT developed against lymphatic filariasis (LF) demonstrated over 57% protection against challenge infection in rhesus macaque model. Currently, we do not know if the rBmHAXT vaccination has any effect on adult worms and/or on the fecundity of adult female worms. Thus, the major focus of this study was to determine the effect of rBmHAXT vaccination on Brugia malayi infected mongolian gerbils. We performed two sets of experiments. In the first set of experiment, gerbils were infected with 100 B. malayi L3. After confirming the establishment of infection, four rounds of DEC treatment and rBmHAXT vaccination was given. Results showed that following vaccination with rBmHAXT, the microfilaria (Mf) count was significantly decreased in all vaccinated animals compared to controls. At the end of these experiments, we collected and counted the established adult worms. There was a 36% reduction in the recovery of adult female worms, which might account for the low Mf load in vaccinated animals. In the second set of experiments, animals were vaccinated first with rBmHAXT followed by surgically implanting adult male or female B. malayi parasites into the peritoneal cavity to determine the effect of vaccination on each sex of the parasite. Our results show that the rBmHAXT vaccination has no effect on male adult worms compared to controls. However, there was 40% reduction in the Mf load in vaccinated animals that were transplanted with adult female worms. These findings suggested that the rBmHAXT vaccination has potential damaging effect on the fecundity of adult female worms. Scanning electron microscopy studies showed cuticular damage on the surface of adult female worms. These studies thus show that the rBmHAXT vaccination in infected gerbils has partial microfilaricidal effect and potentially affect the fecundity of adult female worms.

中文翻译：

---

当用针对人类淋巴丝虫寄生虫的多价疫苗 (rBmHAXT) 对感染了马来亚种的蒙古沙鼠进行免疫时，成年雌性蠕虫的繁殖力受到影响。

一种针对淋巴丝虫病 (LF) 开发的多价重组融合蛋白预防性疫苗 rBmHAXT 在恒河猴模型中表现出超过 57% 的针对攻击感染的保护。目前，我们不知道 rBmHAXT 疫苗接种是否对成虫和/或成虫雌虫的繁殖力有任何影响。因此，本研究的主要焦点是确定 rBmHAXT 疫苗接种对感染马来沙鼠的蒙古沙鼠的影响。我们进行了两组实验。在第一组实验中，沙鼠感染了 100 只马来亚双歧杆菌 L3。确认感染建立后，给予四轮DEC治疗和rBmHAXT疫苗接种。结果表明，接种 rBmHAXT 后，与对照组相比，所有接种动物的微丝蚴 (Mf) 计数显着降低。在这些实验结束时，我们收集并计数已建立的成虫。成年雌性蠕虫的恢复减少了 36%，这可能是接种动物中 Mf 负荷低的原因。在第二组实验中，动物首先接种 rBmHAXT，然后通过手术将成年雄性或雌性马来亚拟南芥寄生虫植入腹腔，以确定疫苗接种对每种性别的寄生虫的影响。我们的结果表明，与对照相比，rBmHAXT 疫苗接种对雄性成虫没有影响。然而，移植了成年雌性蠕虫的接种动物的 Mf 负荷降低了 40%。这些发现表明 rBmHAXT 疫苗接种对成年雌性蠕虫的繁殖力具有潜在的破坏作用。扫描电子显微镜研究显示成年雌性蠕虫表面有角质层损伤。因此，这些研究表明，在受感染的沙鼠中接种 rBmHAXT 疫苗具有部分杀微丝虫作用，并可能影响成年雌性蠕虫的繁殖力。