Work

Immunization with Pneumocystis carinii gpA Is Immunogenic but Not Protective in a Mouse Model of P. carinii Pneumonia

Year: 1998

Type: article

Abstract: Immunization with whole Pneumocystis carinii has been shown to protect mice from the development of P. carinii pneumonia (PCP) when they are subsequently immunosuppressed and challenged with viable organisms. To determine whether these results could be duplicated by using a subunit vaccine, we examined the immunogenicity and efficacy of an immunization strategy based on P. carinii gpA. This antigen was chosen for study because passive immunoprophylaxis, based on gpA, has been shown to be partially protective in various animal models of infection. Immunization with gpA produced an anti-gpA specific antibody response comparable to that resulting from immunization with whole organisms. However, in contrast to immunization with whole P. carinii, which was protective, immunization with gpA did not protect T-cell-depleted mice from the development of PCP. These studies suggest that other antigens in addition to gpA need to be evaluated for their role in protective immunity against P. carinii.

Source: Infection and Immunity

DOI: 10.1128/iai.66.7.3179-3182.1998

Authors: Francis Gigliotti, James A. Wiley, Allen G. Harmsen

Institutions: University of Rochester Medicine, University of Rochester, Trudeau Institute

Language: English

Topic: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia detection and treatment

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases