Vaccination of C57BL/6 mice against cutaneous leishmaniosis. Kinetics of antibody synthesis and induction of cellular responses.

In this report, the effectiveness of vaccination of C57BL/6 mice and its association to long term production of IgG anti-Leishmania, delayed type hypersensitivity response (DTH) and the enlargement of the spleen associated to hyperplasia or parasite visceralization were studied. Mice were vaccinated with Leishmania-membrane antigens incorporated into liposomes, and two weeks later, animals received a homologous challenge with living amastigotes. Antibody levels were weekly recorded during 18 weeks after immunization. It was concluded that this vaccine induces disease-resistance in C57BL/6 mice and this effect correlates with the production of IgG anti-Leishmania, but not with the induction of a DTH or lymphoid hyperplasia.