Cytokine expression profile in hamsters immunized with OmpL37 from Leptospirainterrogans in different vaccine formulations

Background Pathogenic spirochetes from the genus Leptospira are the bacteria that cause leptospirosis, an emerging zoonosis responsible for over 500,000 human cases each year [1]. Vaccination with inactivated whole-cell preparations (bacterins) has limited efficacy due to the wide antigenic variation of the pathogen. Bacterins are reactogenic and confers serovar specific and short-term immunity [2]. The protein OmpL37 represents a potential target for vaccine development against leptospirosis since it is recognized by human and animal serum, binds human extracellular matrix components, is up-regulated in vivo and conserved among pathogenic leptospires [3]. We aimed to evaluate the immune response induced by OmpL37 from L. interrogans serovar Copenhageni strain Fiocruz L1-130 in hamsters, using prime-boost, DNA, and protein-based immunizations.