The results of earlier investigations that tested whether CD8(+) T cells are required in the defense against Leishmania major have been inconsistent. We used CD8-deficient mice to directly address this issue. After primary infection with L. major, CD8-deficient mice controlled the infection for over 1 year and mounted strong T helper 1 cell responses. Thus, CD8(+) T cells are not required for t...

Using the predictive algorithm of Rothbard and Taylor (1988. EMBO J. 7:93) and the primary structure of gp63 (Button, L., and M.R. McMaster. 1988. J. Exp. Med. 167:724; Miller, R.A., S.G. Reed, and M. Parsons. 1990. Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 39:267) we have been able to delineate the structures of a number of gp63 T-cell epitopes which stimulate the proliferation of CD4+ cells. One of these synt...

Susceptibility of BALB/c mice to Leishmania major depends on the early production of IL-4 by CD4(+) T cells which react to the parasite LACK antigen. Here, we show that LACK-specific cells are rapidly recruited to the site of infection and favor the early dissemination of L. major to the internal organs.

background: leishmania major is an intracellular parasite transmitted through the bite of the female phlebotomine sand flies. leishmania major is able to escape the host immune defense and survive within macrophages. modulation of the nf-κb (nuclear factor-kappa b) activation and suppression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines by l. major are the main evasion mechanisms that remain to be explored...

conclusions in conclusion, pegfp-kmp-gp96 (fusion) induced th1 platform immune response against leishmania major (mrho/ir/75/er) infection. results according to the results, the level of cytokines interferon-gamma (ifn-γ) and interleukin (il)-4, and ratio of ifn-γ /il4 was changed among different groups of mice before and seven weeks after immunization. the cytokines were increased significantl...

both urban and rural cutaneous leishmaniasis (cl) are endemic in different parts of iran and have long been recognized in most provinces. however, there is no report of endemicity of cl in rural areas of kashan, 200 km north of isfahan and 260 km south of tehran, iran. to our knowledge, this is the first report of outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis in this area. to study and identify the natur...

conclusions the widespread distribution of l. major parasites in human suggests not only t. indica was the main reservoir but also other rodents and mammalian hosts might be the reservoir hosts of zcl in the region. molecular and phylogenetic analyses confirmed the strength of haplotype variation maintaining the circulation of leishmania species in their reservoir hosts. results leishmania majo...

Cases of visceral leishmaniasis, one of the most neglected tropical diseases, are increasing globally. Dogs are considered an important reservoir host for visceral leishmaniasis in people. The first cases of human visceral leishmaniasis in Vietnam have recently been reported. Blood samples were collected from 41 dogs in rural Vietnam. Sera were examined for antibodies to visceralizing Leishmani...