DNA-Based Immunization withTrypanosoma cruziComplement Regulatory Protein Elicits Complement Lytic Antibodies and Confers Protection againstTrypanosoma cruziInfection

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Abstract
A complement regulatory protein (CRP) ofTrypanosoma cruziwas evaluated as a vaccine candidate in a murine model of experimentalT. cruziinfection. Recombinant CRP derived from anEscherichia coliexpression system and a plasmid encoding the full-lengthcrpstructural gene under the control of a eukaryotic promoter were used to immunize BALB/c mice. Immunization with both protein and DNA vaccines resulted in a Th1-type T-cell response, comparable antibody titers, and similar immunoglobulin G isotype profiles. Only mice immunized with thecrpDNA plasmid produced antibodies capable of lysing the parasites in the presence of complement and were protected against a lethal challenge withT. cruzitrypomastigotes. These results demonstrate the superiority of DNA immunization over protein immunization with the recombinant CRP. The work also supports the further investigation of CRP as a component of a multigene, anti-T. cruziDNA vaccine.