Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi was transformed with the Plasmodium yoelii gene encoding the circumsporozoite (CS) protein, which contains the well-characterized CD8+ T cell epitope, SYVPSAEQI. In vivo and in vitro assays indicated that cells infected with the transformed T. cruzi could process and present this malaria parasite-derived class I MHC-restricted epitope. Immunization of mice with recombinant influenza and vaccinia viruses expressing the SYVPSAEQI epitope induced a large number of specific CD8+ T cells that strongly suppressed parasitemia and conferred complete protection against the acute T. cruzi lethal infection. CD8+ T cells mediated this immunity as indicated by the unrelenting parasitemia and high mortality observed in immunized mice treated with anti-CD8 antibody. This study demonstrated, for the first time, that vaccination of mice with vectors designed to induce CD8+ T cells is effective against T. cruzi infection.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 133-141 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | International immunology |
Volume | 11 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1999 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- CD8 T cells
- Chagas' disease
- Protective immunity
- Recombinant influenza virus
- Recombinant vaccinia virus
- Trypanosoma cruzi
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology