RESUMO
Leishmaniasis is a major health problem and it is estimated that 12 million people are currently infected. A vaccine which could cross-protect people against different Leishmania spp. would facilitate control of this disease as more than one species of Leishmania may be present. In this study the ability of a DNA vaccine, using the full gene sequence for L. donovani gamma glutamyl cysteine synthetase (γGCS) incorporated in the pVAX vector (pVAXγGCS), and a protein vaccine, using the corresponding recombinant L. donovani γGCS protein (LdγGCS), to protect against L. major or L. mexicana infection was evaluated. DNA vaccination gave transient protection against L. major and no protection against L. mexicana despite significantly enhancing specific antibody titres in vaccinated infected mice compared to infected controls. Vaccination with the LdγGCS protected against both species but only if the protein was incorporated into non-ionic surfactant vesicles for L. mexicana. The results of this study indicate that a L. donovani γGCS vaccine could be used to vaccinate against more than one Leishmania species but only if the recombinant protein is used.
Assuntos
Antígenos de Protozoários/imunologia , Glutamato-Cisteína Ligase/imunologia , Leishmania donovani/imunologia , Vacinas contra Leishmaniose/imunologia , Leishmaniose Cutânea/prevenção & controle , Leishmaniose Visceral/prevenção & controle , Animais , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/biossíntese , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/imunologia , Antígenos de Protozoários/genética , Proteção Cruzada , Epitopos , Glutamato-Cisteína Ligase/genética , Humanos , Leishmania major/imunologia , Leishmania mexicana/imunologia , Vacinas contra Leishmaniose/genética , Leishmaniose Cutânea/imunologia , Leishmaniose Cutânea/parasitologia , Leishmaniose Visceral/imunologia , Leishmaniose Visceral/parasitologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Proteínas Recombinantes/genética , Proteínas Recombinantes/imunologia , Vacinação , Vacinas de DNA , Vacinas de Subunidades AntigênicasRESUMO
The "Breaking the Cycle" programme, based on the Project Charlie programme, was developed for Antigua and Barbuda third grade students and was implemented in 2001. Aspects of the programme are compared with aspects recently proven effective in randomized studies in developed countries. The "Breaking the Cycle" programme includes life-skills training, teaches decision making skills, includes peer resistance training, uses trained teachers, interactive teaching methods, effective content and delivery, targets students prior to onset of drug use, teaches drug harm, teaches community values and is culturally sensitive, all aspects of successful programmes overseas. The cost of about $7 US per student would suggests cost-benefit effectiveness compared with overseas programmes. The "Breaking the Cycle" school-based drug and alcohol use prevention programme includes most aspects of evidence-based successful programmes overseas, appears cost effective and could serve as a model for programmes in the Caribbean region.