protective effect of vitamin d3 and gp63 conjugated with tetanus toxoid on outcome of cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions in balb/c mice

introduction: gp63 is a major surface protease of leishmania promastigotes that plays an important role in its virulance. as gp63 on its own can not develop an effective protection against leishmaniasis, the goal of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of gp63 conjugated with tetanus toxoid (tt) and vitamin d3 in susceptible balb/c mice against cutaneous leishmaniasis. methods: this study was a basic-applied experimental study performed in tarbiat modarres university from september 2002 to april 2005. cloned virulant leishmania (l.) major [mrho / ir / 75 / er] strain was cultured and 5109 cells were harvested. gp63 molecule was purified and conjugated with tt and conjugated molecule was used for immunization of 8 groups of female balb/c mice. results: results showed that the group of mice receiving conjugated molecule with vitamin d3 had significant differences from other groups regarding lesion progression (p0.05). the culture of spleen cells showed that the disease did not become systemic in this group. conclusion: conjugation of gp63 with tt strengthens cell immunity and its use along with vitamin d3 provokes macrophages activity. this basis can be used for production of an appropriate preparation for protection against leishmaniasis.