Vaccination against Onchocerca volvulus induces IgG-mediated protective immunity dependent on neutrophils and complement.

ABSTRACT: Onchocerciasis remains a significant cause of morbidity and economic loss in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the existence of effective therapeutics, a prophylactic vaccine targeting the etiologic agent, Onchocerca volvulus, is needed to control ongoing disease and transmission. Mice were vaccinated against O. volvulus with a fusion of the recombinant antigens Ov-103 and Ov-RAL-2 (Ov-FUS-1) with Advax-CpG adjuvant. Immunized mice developed protective immunity with the killing of third-stage larvae (L3) within 36 h of challenge infection. IgG from immunized mice passively transferred protective immunity to naïve mice, indicating that antigen-specific IgG mediated parasite elimination. Neutrophils were the most abundant subset of immune cells recruited to the parasite microenvironment in vivo, a

SUBMITTER: Ryan NM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12546713 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature