Induction of a protection against S. mansoni with a MAP containing epitopes of Sm37-GAPDH and Sm10-DLC. Effect of coadsorbtion with GM-CSF on alum

Studies of anti-S. mansoni immunological responses in individuals living in endemic areas identified immunogens (Sm37-GAPDH and Sm10-DLC) with vaccine candidate properties. Analysis of the epitopes of these immunogens indicat ed that: (i) Sm37-5 is a major B-cell epitope of Sm37-GAPDH and the IgG ant ibody reactivity toward this determinant is associated with resistance to r einfection; (ii) Sm10-T is a T-cell epitope of the major T-cell immunogen S m10-DLC. This led us to test a multiple antigen peptide (MAP) containing Sm 37-5 and Sm10-T as an anti-schistosome vaccine. This MAP induced a signific ant protective immune response in mice when injected in Freund's adjuvant o r coadsorbed with GM-CSF on aluminium hydroxide. In the latter case the phy sical link between the cytokine and the antigen via the coadsorption on alu m was necessary to obtain a protective response. Results of the antibody re sponse indicated that when the MAP and GM-CSF were coadsorbed on alum, the antibody response against the Sm10-T epitope located in the NH2-terminal po sition was significantly amplified up to 30% of the anti-Sm37-5 response. ( C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.