Vaccination of different strains of mice against cutaneous leishmaniosis: usefulness of membrane antigens encapsulated into liposomes by intraperitoneal and subcutaneous administration.

The objective of this study was to assess the usefulness of parasite-surface molecules reconstituted into liposomes to vaccinate four different strains of mice (C57BL/10, CBA/ca, C57BL/6 and NZB) with different levels of susceptibility to L. m. mexicana infection and to find out possible increases in specific antibody response after vaccination, but before infection with virulent promastigotes. Mice were vaccinated with parasite membrane antigens incorporated into liposomes and antibody levels were recorded. Vaccination was effective to protect CBA/ca and C57BL/6 but not C57BL/10 mice and NZB animals were naturally resistant. Intraperitoneal (ip) was more effective than the subcutaneous (sc) route of inoculation, and the induction of disease-resistance correlated with the production of IgG anti-Leishmania in CBA/ca, C57BL/6 and C57BL/10 mice.