Leishmania mexicana and Leishmania tropica: Cross immunity in C57BL/6 mice

Simultaneous Infection with Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and L. (V.) lainsoni in a Peruvian Patient with Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

“…[8][9][10][11][12][13][14] It has long been postulated that infection of the host with one species of Leishmania might protect against re-infection with homologous or heterologous species. 22,23 However, in vitro studies of individual macrophage co-infections with different species of Leishmania suggest an absence of mutual exclusion if a second infection with a different strain occurs within a short window, 24 and recurrent infections in humans also imply some plasticity of this protective immune phenomenon. 25,26 The patient described in this report probably acquired the infection in the last leishmaniasisendemic region (Iberia), and although we cannot demonstrate definitively where this patient was infected, she was likely bitten by sand flies carrying different species over a short period in the same geographic location, thereby precluding development of any kind of partially protective immune response to infection by a second species.…”

A common major surface antigen on amastigotes and promastigotes of Leishmania species.

“…In the latter, the majority of antibodies obtained crossreact with most species, rather than showing species specificity. Crossprotection, although not the rule, has been extensively demonstrated both in human and experimental infections (9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15). Of particular relevance are the results of Howard and coworkers (13)(14)(15), where prophylactic immunization of mice with irradiated promastigotes of Ltm induced protection and long-lasting immunity effective against both promastigote and amastigote challenges, and detectable not only against Ltm but also Lmm, Lma, and L. braziliensis panamensis.…”

Resolution of an Infection with Leishmania braziliensis Confers Complete Protection to a Subsequent Challenge with Leishmania major in BALB/c Mice

“…However, in addition to this, a primary infection with a given species of Leishmania can also confer cross-protection against a different species of Leishmania (Lainson & Bray 1966, Lainson & Shaw 1977, Alexander & Phillips 1978a,b, Perez et al 1979, Alexander 1988, Melby 1991, Abramson et al 1995, Gicheru et al 1997. Cross-protection has been shown in several different mammalian hosts; the protection sometimes acts in only one direction (Lainson & Shaw 1977), and in some cases the sex of the host influences the cross-protection seen (Alexander 1988).…”