Comparative evaluation of phenol and thimerosal as preservatives for a candidate vaccine against American cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Abstract

For decades thimerosal has been used as a preservative in the candidate vaccine for cutaneous leishmaniasis, which was developed by Mayrink et al. The use of thimerosal in humans has been banned due to its mercury content. This study addresses the standardization of phenol as a new candidate vaccine preservative. We have found that the proteolytic activity was abolished when the test was conducted using the candidate vaccine added to merthiolate (MtVac) as well as to phenol (PhVac). The Montenegro's skin test conversion rates induced by MtVac and by PhVac was 68.06% and 85.9%, respectively, and these values were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The proliferative response of peripheral mononuclear blood cells shows that the stimulation index of mice immunized with both candidate vaccines was higher than the one in control animals (p < 0.05). The ability of the candidate vaccines to induce protection in C57BL/10 mice against a challenge with infective Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes was tested and the mice immunized with PhVac developed smaller lesions than the mice immunized with MtVac. Electrophoresis of phenol-preserved antigen revealed a number of proteins, which were better preserved in PhVac. These results do in fact encourage the use of phenol for preserving the immunogenic and biochemical properties of the candidate vaccine for cutaneous leishmaniasis.

• Authors: Wilson Mayrink, Carlos Alberto Pereira Tavares, Rosangela Barbosa de Deus, Melina Barros Pinheiro, Tânia Mara Pinto Dabés Guimarães, Hélida Monteiro de Andrade, Carlos Alberto da Costa, Vicente de Paulo Coelho Peixoto da Toledo
• Journal: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz) Vol. 105 Issue 1 Pg. 86-91 (Feb 2010) ISSN: 1678-8060 [Electronic] Brazil
• PMID: 20209335 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Leishmaniasis Vaccines
• Preservatives, Pharmaceutical
• Thimerosal
• Phenol

Topics

• Adult
• Animals
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Female
• Humans
• Leishmaniasis Vaccines (chemistry, immunology)
• Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous (prevention & control)
• Lymphocytes (drug effects, immunology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Phenol (adverse effects, standards)
• Preservatives, Pharmaceutical (adverse effects, standards)
• Skin Tests
• Thimerosal (adverse effects, standards)