The region 51 65 induced the strongest antibody response despite no IFN-γ response was detected in mice immunized with this epitope, suggesting that this immunization might be eliciting humoral immune response in a T cell independent manner.
The immunity generated by this immunization strategy also protected the mice against another strain of Plasmodium, different to the one used in the immunizations.
However, attenuated cercariae did not induce such anti-fecundity effect in immunized mice even though this immunization stimulated strong Th1 response [ 42].
Exposure to blood-stage parasites thus elicits heterologous blood-stage immunity and can contribute to the pre-erythrocytic efficacy of this immunization regimen.
This immunization strategy resulted in the induction of a strong anti-tumor immune response and in sustained memory responses, which is important as memory T cells should avoid tumor re-appearance.
Cross-stage immunity elicited by blood-stage parasites may further enhance efficacy of this immunization regimen.
In allergic individuals, this immunization can cause a shift from TH-2 to TH-1 dominated immune response, and has the potential to work as an unspecific immunotherapy, evoking immunotolerance [ 1].
Despite the international recommendations for vaccinating those at-risk populations, many countries still have not adopted this immunization program.
Therefore, this immunization method could be a general strategy for isolating sdAbs against any surface antigen without immunizing the animal with the antigen of interest each time.
Furthermore, this immunization strategy increased the ratio of IgG2a/IgG1 in sera, indicating an induction of a Th1 response, and elicited a CD8 T cell response.
This immunization strategy combining both antigens used approximately 67% less crude Loxosceles venoms compared to traditional immunization protocol and can mean the development of Loxosceles antivenoms with the consequent reduction of devastation of arachnid fauna.
