Immunogenicity of HLA‐DR1 and HLA‐A2 peptides derived from Leishmania major Gp63 in golden hamsters

Aims This study aimed to evaluate the toxicity and humoral and cellular immune response of three heterologous vaccines against Leishmania infantum, yet containing synthetic peptides from Leishmania major in the experimental model in hamsters. Methods and Results Through bioinformatics analyses, two Leishmania major Gp63 peptides were predicted and selected for vaccine formulations. Hamsters were divided into four groups, with each group receiving doses of three vaccine formulations containing HLA‐DR1 or HLA‐A2 peptides plus MontanideTM or both associated with the adjuvant. The animals received three vaccine doses and were evaluated for toxicity after each dose, in addition to being analysed for the production of antibodies and lymphoproliferation on day 211 after the last vaccine dose. Peptides predicted in association with oily adjuvant induced a humoral response and strong lymphoproliferation to Leishmania infantum antigen‐specific stimulation.