摘要 : The 63-kDa antigen of <i>Leishmania donovani</i> is a membrane-anchored matrix metalloprotease that has been shown to be involved in the infection process. We have shown that this antigen alone generates a Th1 type of protective r... 展开 The 63-kDa antigen of <i>Leishmania donovani</i> is a membrane-anchored matrix metalloprotease that has been shown to be involved in the infection process. We have shown that this antigen alone generates a Th1 type of protective response that is partial but when the animals are primed with the antigen along with the Hsp70, the level of protection is raised significantly, which is demonstrated by a considerable reduction in parasite load of immunized animals when compared to the infected controls. Delayed-type hypersensitivity responses to leishmanin were measured as an index of cell-mediated immune response and were found to be higher in immunized animals when compared to the infected controls, the maximum being in the animals immunized with cocktail of both the antigens. Maximum IgG2a and minimum IgG1 levels were observed in this group of animals. These animals also generated maximum levels of IFN- gamma and IL-2 and minimum levels of IL-4 and IL-10 pointing towards the generation of a protective Th1 response and the suppression of the Th2 type of immune response. 收起