Abstract

In the present study, we evaluated prophylactic prospective of liposome based DNA vaccine co-expressing Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) along with interleukin-18 (IL-18) against experimental murine brucellosis. The immunization schedule involves liposome-mediated delivery of pVsod (encoding SOD of Brucella abortus) and pVIL18-sod (encoding IL-18 of mouse and SOD of B. abortus) DNA constructs. The data highlight potential of Escherichia coli lipid liposome (escheriosome) based DNA delivery vehicle to induce SOD specific humoral and cellular immune responses in the immunized mice. The co-expression of SOD along with IL-18 ensued in higher lymphoproliferative response and IFN-gamma production in comparison to the group of animals that were immunized with free form of SOD-DNA. Antibody response developed upon immunization with both DNA vaccines was of IgG2a type mainly. The results of the present study show that co-expression of IL-18 along with SOD polarized the antigen specific immune responses toward Th-1 direction, a desirable feature to control intracellular pathogens.