infantum antigens at 8 weeks after challenge (Figure 1e). However, the amount of nitric oxide in G2 vaccinated with DNA/DNA in cSLN formulation remained significantly higher than the control groups. Similar levels of cytokines were produced with ConA in all groups (data not shown). As shown in Figure 2(a), rA2–rCPA–rCPB-specific IgG1 and IgG2a were higher in G1 compared with the other groups (P < 0·001) before challenge. Also, G2 showed a higher amount of rA2–rCPA–rCPB-specific IgG1 than control groups, although much lower than G1. This is consistent with previously reported data that both Th1 and Th2 responses

were needed for protection against visceral leishmaniasis [12, 27-29]. No significant differences in the levels of IgG1 and IgG2 were seen among groups with L. infantum F/T antigen stimulation Roscovitine in vitro (Figure 2b). As shown in Figure 3, immunization with pcDNA–A2–CPA–CPB−CTE

via DNA/DNA vaccination with chemical or physical delivery drastically (P < 0·01) reduced the infection levels in both liver (Figure 3a) and spleen (Figure 3b) at 4–6 weeks after L. infantum infection in contrast to the control groups. The liver parasite load (Figure 3a) of both control groups LEE011 in vitro started increasing early following infection, reaching its maximum at 4 weeks after challenge to rapidly decline. Control of the hepatic infection did not result into complete clearance of the parasite, as at week 12 there were still few detectable parasites in the liver that were dependent on the inoculum size [30]. In contrast, the parasite burden in the vaccinated group peaked with a 4-week delay. In the spleen (Figure 3b), the highest parasite burden was observed 12 weeks after challenge and the organ stayed chronically infected. Interestingly, it was observed that between weeks 8 and 12 the parasite burden has intense slope towards growing in control groups, while in vaccinated groups, parasites were controlled (Figure 3b). Therefore, it can be concluded that these designed vaccines have a partial protection against L. infantum infection. In liver, all groups showed

variable degree of portal inflammation, but the most severe inflammation and interface hepatitis were observed only in control groups (G3 and G4). The severity of lobular inflammation at 4th week was significantly higher in G3 and G4 [13-16/10 Ponatinib order hpf (high-power field)] compared with vaccinated groups (0–2/10 hpf) (P < 0·05) (Figure 4a). No significant difference in this inflammatory response was seen among groups at 8 weeks after challenge, whereas the degree of lobular inflammation had a peak of increase in all groups and decreased in week 14. All groups had Kupffer cell hyperplasia which was especially prominent at 8th week (data not shown). Hepatic hydropic change and clearing of the cytoplasm were a significant finding at weeks 4 and 8 and disappeared in the 14th week.