The Leishmania HSP20 Is Antigenic during Natural Infections, but, as DNA Vaccine, It does not Protect BALB/c Mice against Experimental L. amazonensis Infection
Figure 5
Analysis of protective effect of DNA vaccination with L.
amazonensis HSP20 gene. (a) Expression of Leishmania HSP20 in pcDNA3-LaHSP20 transfected COS7 cells. COS7
cells were transiently transfected by electroporation with either pcDNA3 DNA (lane 1) or pcDNA3-LaHSP20 DNA (lane 2). Protein extracts were analyzed by 12% SDS-PAGE and stained with Coomassie blue (left panel). The expression of Leishmania HSP20 was assayed by Western blotting using a mouse anti-HSP20 polyclonal antibody (right panel). (b) BALB/c mice (six per group) were immunized twice at 2-week interval with PBS, empty vector or pcDNA3-LaHSP20. After challenge with L. amazonensis, lesion development (footpad swelling) was monitored weekly. Each point represents the average and standard deviations for the group.
