Abstract

Leishmania major infections in genetically susceptible and resistant mice will be used as models for the study of immunity to cutaeous leishmaniasis. Non-healing infections in susceptible (BALB/c) mice are characterized by the development of both T suppressor cells and prostaglandin-secreting suppressor macrophages. The underlying causes for induction of these suppressor cells in susceptible, but not resistant, mice has yet to be determined. Efforts will be made to characterize differences in macrophage antigen presenting capacity between healing and non-healing strains and to evaluate macrophage functional abnormalities as the basis for genetic susceptibility to L. major. Studies will concentrate on how infection might alter the production of prostaglandins or the expression of I region gene products (Ia antigens) by macrophages. The induction and maintenance of Ia expression by lymphokines will be assessed in vitro and correlated with in vivo Ia expression by cells from infected mice. Attempts will also be made to determine if prostaglandins play a major role in modulation of Ia expression and the induction of T suppressor cells. Finally, attempts will be made to modulate Ia expression by leishmanial-antigen presenting cells and test the ability of these cells to immunize mice against infection.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI022837-02
Application #
3134417
Study Section
Tropical Medicine and Parasitology Study Section (TMP)
Project Start
1986-08-01
Project End
1989-07-31
Budget Start
1987-08-01
Budget End
1988-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
University of Pennsylvania
Department
Type
Schools of Veterinary Medicine
DUNS #
042250712
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19104