Cytokine expression profile in the dLN of PsSP9-immunized mice a-t one and two months after L. tropica plus Ph. sergenti SGH challenge.

BALB/c mice (ten mice per group) were immunized in the right ear three times at two-week intervals with Ph. sergenti SGH, plasmid coding for PsSP9, empty plasmid (VR1020) or PBS. Two weeks after the last immunization, mice were challenged with 10⁷ metacyclic L. tropica plus Ph. sergenti SGH in the contralateral ear. Data shown are from one representative of two independent experiments. (A) IFN-γ, (B) IL-5 and (C) the ratio of IFN-γ to IL-5 expression in the dLN of BAB/c mice (four to five mice per group) immunized with PsSP9, Ph. sergenti SGH, VR1020 or PBS, at one month post-challenge with L. tropica plus Ph. sergenti SGH. The obtained results were normalized to the expression level of HPRT. These data are presented as fold change relative to the PBS control group. (D) IFN-γ, (E) IL-5 and (F) the ratio of IFN-γ to IL-5 mRNA expression in dLN of BALB/c mice (five mice per group) immunized with PsSP9, Ph. sergenti SGH, VR1020 or PBS, at two months post challenge with L. tropica plus Ph. sergenti SGH. The obtained results were normalized to the expression level of HPRT. These data are presented as fold change relative to the PBS control. The p value is indicated for each vaccinated group compared with the control plasmid group (VR1020).