Vaccination against Leishmania infections.

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_23688
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Publication sub-type
Review (review): journal as complete as possible of one specific subject, written based on exhaustive analyses from published work.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Vaccination against Leishmania infections.
Journal
Current Drug Targets. Immune, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
Author(s)
Mauël J.
ISSN
1568-0088
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2002
Volume
2
Number
3
Pages
201-226
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Review
Abstract
Leishmaniasis, that affects millions of people worldwide, is an infectious disease caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania. Incidence of the condition appears to be increasing in several parts of the world. Of the three main presentations of the disease, i.e. cutaneous, mucocutaneous and visceral, only the first one tends to heal spontaneously, while the other two are considered fatal if left to run their natural course. Recovery from leishmaniasis, whether spontaneous or drug-induced, is usually accompanied by solid immunity against reinfection, which provides a rationale for attempting to design vaccines against the disease. This review presents an outline of the main immunological features of Leishmania infections and of the mechanisms thought to operate in recovery from the disease. It describes various experimental approaches to vaccination in man and animal models, including the use of virulent and avirulent organisms, of dead parasites and extracts thereof, and of purified parasite proteins. Assays using novel technologies, such as the direct injection of DNAs encoding parasite proteins, or the inoculation of viral or bacterial vectors expressing such molecules, as well as recent experiments aimed at inducing an immune response against saliva of the insect vector, are also reviewed. Observations made during the course of these studies have reinforced the notion that vaccination against leishmaniasis is indeed feasible. However, in spite of intensive efforts by many groups and many reports of success in man and in animal models, a consensus is yet to emerge as to what constitutes the best approach to vaccination against leishmaniasis.
Keywords
Animals, Antigens, Protozoan/administration &amp, dosage, Humans, Leishmania/immunology, Leishmaniasis/immunology, Leishmaniasis/parasitology, Protozoan Vaccines, Public Health, Vaccination/methods, Vaccines, DNA
Pubmed
Create date
19/11/2007 12:19
Last modification date
20/08/2019 13:01
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