Schistosoma mansoni: radiation dose and morphologic integrity of schistosomules as factors for an effective cryopreserved live vaccine

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984 · Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6723301

Lewis, F A; Stirewalt, M; Leef, J L

The effectiveness of a cryopreserved, irradiated schistosomule vaccine against an homologous Schistosoma mansoni cercarial challenge was tested in C57B1/6 mice. Highly significant levels of protection developed consistently when mice were immunized with the vaccine irradiated at 10-20 Krad, i.e., doses below that considered optimal for irradiated cercariae (50 Krad). Cryopreserved schistosomules irradiated at 10 or 20 Krad induced greater levels of protection than did schistosomules irradiated at 2, 5, 30, or 50 Krad. Protective immunity developed as early as 3 weeks post-immunization. When immunizing inocula were injected at various times post-thaw, or when schistosomule subpopulations of normal-appearing, damaged or dead organisms were injected, those populations which had appeared to sustain the least degree of damage were those most capable of stimulating protective immunity. These findings highlight the hazards of extrapolating conditions considered standard for an irradiated cercarial vaccine to one in which cryopreservation, for storage of the schistosomules, is an added stress.

• Research Organization: Biomedical Research Inst., Rockville, MD
• OSTI ID: 6723301
• Journal Information: Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg.; (United States), Vol. 33:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
SCHISTOSOMA
VACCINES
RADIOPRESERVATION
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
CRYOBIOLOGY
MICE
RADIATION DOSES
TESTING
ANIMALS
BIOLOGY
DOSES
HELMINTHS
IRRADIATION
MAMMALS
PLATYHELMINTHS
PRESERVATION
RODENTS
TREMATODES
VERTEBRATES
560134* - Radiation Effects on Microorganisms- Vaccine Preparation & Other Applications- (-1987)