Caracterização da imunogenicidade de antígenos recombinantes de Trypanosoma cruzi em modelo murino

Abstract

Chagas disease (CD) is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. Numerous parasite proteins are being purified and used as antigenic candidates for the development of vaccines in immunization protocols. In this context, an immunization protocol was developed with a mixture of two recombinant antigens called X (FPPSTc) and Y (SPPSTc) in the presence and absence of the aluminum hydroxide adjuvant, in order to characterize its immunostimulatory capacity. BALB / c mice were immunized and blood samples were obtained at 15, 30 and 45 days after immunization. The profile of specific antibodies total IgG, IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and IgG3 were determined by immunoassay. The data demonstrate the highest production of total anti-X IgG, especially when associated with aluminum hydroxide, whereas the production of anti-Y antibodies was not significant in relation to the negative control. In addition, the mixture of the two antigens showed a better profile for the IgG2b subclass. Additionally, it was observed that sera from chagasic patients do not recognize the X and Y antigens and that the sera from the immunized animals do not recognize the total T. cruzi extract. In conclusion, this study contributes to the understanding of the immunogenicity of these two possible antigenic candidates for the rational development of vaccines in the context of Chagas disease.