Evaluation of immunoprophylactic efficacy of Brugia malayi transglutaminase (BmTGA) in single and multiple antigen vaccination with BmALT-2 and BmTPX for human lymphatic filariasis.

An attempt was made to study the immunoprophylactic efficacy of recombinant Brugia malayi transglutaminase (BmTGA) as protein vaccine along with two other recombinant proteins, Brugia malayi abundant larval transcript-2 (BmALT-2) and Brugia malayi thioredoxin peroxidase (BmTPX), in single and multiple antigen form for human lymphatic filariasis. Parasite challenge studies in jirds exhibited protection of 30%, 69%, and 43% against BmTGA, BmALT-2, and BmTPX, respectively, in single antigen vaccination mode. The protective efficacy of BmTGA was enhanced significantly (74%) by immunizing the jirds in multiple antigen vaccination mode along with BmTPX, whereas immunizing with the combination of BmTGA and BmALT2 conferred only 47% protection. The same protection profiles were obtained by in vitro antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, using live microfilariae and L3 stage larvae. The immune response was Th2 biased, irrespective of single or multiple vaccinations. The combination of BmTGA and BmTPX seems to be a promising vaccine candidate against lymphatic filariasis.