g(m1)-ganglioside and Trypanosomiasis--African

The effect of antibody against ganglioside antigen on Trypanosoma brucei parasites was examined in vitro and in vivo using anti-ganglioside GM1 (AGM-1) monoclonal antibody. The antibody showed complement-dependent cytotoxicity against T. brucei with mouse complement. Furthermore, mice given AGM-1 were challenged intraperitoneally with T. brucei. Although all non-treated control mice died within six days after infection, all of AGM-1-injected mice had survived by six days post-infection. These data suggest that antibody against ganglioside antigen on T. brucei has potential in protection against T. brucei infection.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Protozoan; Antigens, Protozoan; Female; G(M1) Ganglioside; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Trypanosoma brucei brucei; Trypanosomiasis, African

Liposome-associated ganglioside antigens (ganglioside GM1 or bovine brain gangliosides) were prepared to facilitate the potential protective efficacy for Trypanosoma brucei. Mice were immunized with liposome-associated ganglioside GM1 or bovine brain gangliosides intraperitoneally (i.p.). After immunization, significantly higher antigen-specific IgG and IgM antibodies were detected in sera than in the nonimmunized control group. When sera from immunized mice were analyzed for isotype distribution, antigen-specific IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG3 antibody responses were also noted. After immunization, mice were challenged i.p. with 1 x 10(2) cells of T. brucei. Sixty percentage of liposome-associated ganglioside GM1-immunized mice survived the infection, and all the mice immunized with bovine brain gangliosides-containing liposomes survived. However, all control mice died within 7 days after infection. These data demonstrate that liposomes containing ganglioside antigens have the potential usefulness for the induction of a protective immune response against T. brucei infection and suggest the possibility of developing vaccines that may ultimately be used for the prevention of trypanosomiasis.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Protozoan; Antigens, Protozoan; Cattle; Female; G(M1) Ganglioside; Gangliosides; Immunization; Immunoglobulin G; Immunoglobulin M; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Liposomes; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Trypanosoma brucei brucei; Trypanosomiasis, African