7 research outputs found
T cell and cytokine response in vaccinated dogs.
<p>(<b>A</b>) Spleen cells were obtained from vaccinated and
non-vaccinated dogs at one year after challenge infection with <i>T.
cruzi</i>. Spleen cells were incubated for 30 min with
FITC-conjugated anti-CD8 and PE-conjugated anti-CD4 antibodies and
CD4<sup>+</sup> and CD8<sup>+</sup> T cell subsets monitored
by flow cytometry. (<b>B</b>) The circulatory IFN-γ level was
measured by an ELISA. Data are presented as mean ± SD
(*<i>p</i><0.05).</p
Morphological alterations in the heart.
<p>Dogs were vaccinated and infected with <i>T. cruzi</i> as above.
Shown are representative morphologic alterations of the heart during the
acute infection phase (60 dpi) in dogs injected with vector only
(<b>B&B1</b>) or immunized with TcVac1
(<b>C&C1</b>). Images of normal heart (<b>A&A1</b>) are
shown for comparison. Horizontal arrows show right ventricle wall thinning
characteristic of ventricle dilation. Vertical arrows show pale striated
epicardium and myocardium, characteristic of necrosis produced after
inflammatory response to infection.</p
The antibody response to <i>T. cruzi</i> infection was polarized to type 1 in vaccinated dogs.
<p>Dogs were vaccinated as above, and infected with <i>T. cruzi</i>.
An ELISA was performed to evaluate sera levels (1∶100-dilution) of
<i>T. cruzi</i>-specific IgM (<b>A</b>), IgG
(<b>B</b>), IgG1 (<b>C</b>), and IgG2 (<b>D</b>)
antibodies at 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 days post-infection.</p
TcVac1-induced antibody response in dogs.
<p>Dogs were vaccinated with TcVac1 or injected with vector only, and sera were
collected two weeks after each immunization dose. An ELISA was performed to
monitor the sera levels (1∶50 dilution) of parasite-specific IgM
(<b>A</b>), IgG (<b>B</b>), IgG1 (<b>C</b>) and IgG2
(<b>D</b>). The vaccine-induced antigen-specific (TcG1, TcG2 and
TcG4) antibody response in sera collected 14 days after last dose of vaccine
was determined using recombinant antigens. Data are presented as mean
± SD (*<i>p</i><0.05, vaccinated versus
non-vaccinated, n = 6 per experiment).</p
Histological analysis of hearts.
<p>Dogs were vaccinated, and challenged with <i>T. cruzi</i>. Heart
tissue sections (5-ìM) from left ventricle, septum, and right
ventricle were obtained at 60 days post-infection (acute phase), and stained
with hematoxylin-eosin. Shown are representative micrographs of dogs
injected with vector only (<b>B,B1,B2</b>) or immunized with TcVac1
(<b>C,C1,C2</b>). Micrographs from normal/uninfected dogs
(<b>A,A1,A2</b>) are shown for comparison. Vertical arrows show
amastigote nests and horizontal arrows show lymphocyte infiltration, and
cardiomyocytes destruction.</p
Shown are plasma levels of myeloperoxidase activity (A) and nitrite content (B) in dogs immunized with vector only or TcVac1 vaccine during the course of 0–60 days post-infection.
<p>Data are presented as mean ± SD (*<i>p</i><0.05).</p