Vaccination with an alkaline extract of Histoplasma capsulatum packaged in glucan particles confers protective immunity in mice.

ABSTRACT: Infection with the dimorphic fungus, Histoplasma capsulatum, occurs world-wide, but North and South America are regions of high endemicity. Interventions to mitigate exposure and consequent disease are limited to remediating a habitat harboring the fungus. The development of a vaccine to prevent infection or lessen its severity is an important advance in disease prevention. Accordingly, we prepared an alkaline extract from the yeast phase of Histoplasma and encased it in glucan particles that act as an adjuvant and delivery vehicle. Immunization of C57BL/6 mice with this encapsulated extract decreased the number of CFUs in lungs and spleens at days 7 and 14 following intranasal infection. Moreover, this vaccine conferred protection against a lethal challenge with the fungus. Cytokine asses

SUBMITTER: Deepe GS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5960637 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature