Evaluation of the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of Killed Leishmania donovani antigen along with different adjuvants against experimental visceral leishmaniasis

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by Leishmania donovani is a life-threatening disease involving uncontrolled parasitization of vital organs. Drugs to treat leishmaniasis have one or more limitations or insufficiencies in the long run. A safe and efficacious vaccine to control this disease is needed. Killed antigens that could be safer as vaccines have shown limited efficacy in clinical trials. Immunogenic enhancement with appropriate adjuvants may thus be required to elicit protective immunity based on antibodies and effector T-cell functions. Therefore, it is essential to search for adjuvant to enhance the immunogenicity of killed vaccines and to induce protection against leishmaniasis. So, the aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of four adjuvants, i.e. alum, saponin, monophosphoryl lipid A, cationic liposome in combination with Killed Leishmania donovani (KLD) antigen against murine VL. Animals were immunized subcutaneously thrice at an interval of 2 weeks with a final volume of 100 mu l per dose. Challenge infection was given 2 weeks after last booster. Mice were sacrificed 15 days after last immunization and on 30, 60 and 90 post-infection/challenge days. The protective efficacy of vaccines was revealed by significant reduction in parasite burden and enhanced DTH responses in comparison with the infected controls. Immunized animals also generated significant levels of Th1 cytokines and increased production of IgG2a, thus indicating the generation of a protective Th1 response. All the adjuvants imparted significant protection, but liposomal formulation was most effective followed by KLD + MPL-A, KLD + saponin, KLD + alum and KLD antigen.