DNA Vaccine as Immune-prophylaxis Against Kala-azar

Visceral form of leishmaniasis may be fatal if left untreated. Failure of the pentavalent antimonials, presently the main form of chemotherapeutic treatment worldwide, is attributed to the emergence of antimony resistant  Leishmania strains resulting in frequent relapses after treatment. Alternative chemotherapeutic treatments with amphotericin B and its lipid formulation have severe limitations due to toxic effect and prohibitive high cost of treatment.  Growing limitations in available chemotherapeutic strategies due to emerging resistant strains and lack of an effective vaccine strategy against VL deepens the crisis.

The invention provides a method for prophylactic immunizing a mammal infected with virulent form of the parasite Leishmania, comprising administering to the mammal a DNA vaccine comprising of (a) cDNA of the antigen known as Kinetoplastid Membrane Protein-11 (KMP-11), (b) cDNA is a polynucleotide comprising a coding region encoding the antigen, wherein the antigen is a cell surface membrane protein of Leishmania where prophylactic administration of the vaccine is effective to confer protection to the mammal from the parasite.

The technology uses a highly conserved membrane protein present in all species of Leishmania as a vaccine antigen for genetic immunization against visceral leishmananiasis or Kala-azar.

An indigenous technology having immense prophylactic potential.

WHO has identified leishmaniasis as a major and increasing public health problem. Available chemotherapeutic strategies emerging resistant strains and lack of an effective vaccine against Kala-azar intensifies the crisis.

The vaccine prevents mortality of the mammal from lethal virulent Leishmania infection and confers sterile protection in tissues that would be infected by Leishmania upon exposure.