Course of <i>L</i>. <i>major</i> infection in BALB/c mice vaccinated with the LiPABP DNA combined vaccine.

<p>Mice (n = 8 per group) vaccinated with the LiPABP1 + LiPABP2 + LiPABP3 combined genetic vaccine (pcDNA3-PABPs) or inoculated with the pcDNA3 empty vector (pcDNA) or receiving the vaccine diluent (Saline) were challenged in the footpad with 5 × 10⁴ <i>L</i>. <i>major</i> stationary promastigotes one month after the last immunization. Footpad swelling is represented as the mean ± SD of the difference of thickness between the infected and the uninfected contra-lateral footpads (A). The numbers of viable parasites in the popliteal lymph nodes draining the infected legs (DLN) or in spleens were individually determined by limiting dilution at week seven post-challenge. Mean ± SD of the parasite burdens in the complete organ is shown (B). ⁺ <i>P</i> < 0.05, ⁺⁺ <i>P</i> < 0.01 and ⁺⁺⁺ <i>P</i> < 0.001 significant differences between LiPABP vaccinated and saline control mice; * <i>P</i> < 0.05, ** <i>P</i> < 0.01 and *** <i>P</i> < 0.001 significant differences between LiPABP vaccinated mice and pcDNA3 immunized control mice (Student T-test). Results in each panel are representative of two independent experiments.