A THERAPEUTIC DNA VACCINE IN NONHUMAN PRIMATE AGAINST CHAGAS DISEASE

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Chagas disease, or American Trypanosomiasis, is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruiz. An estimated 16-18 million people are infected and close to 100 million people are at risk of infection from southern Brazil to Mexico. During the chronic phases of the disease, infected individuals undergo extensive tissue damage, primarily cardiac tissue but also spleen, liver, skeletal muscle, colon and esophageal with this tissue damage progressively leading to cardiac failure and death. Over 20,000 deaths per year are attributed to this disease. Treatment of infected patients relies on nitrofurans but these drugs are of little efficacy and have serious side effects. Nine animals (n=6 on Pilot project and n=3 on Gorgas) were inoculated subcutaneously on 1/17/07 with T.cruzi parasites supplied by Dr. Yabsley at UGA. Ear/tail blood smears have been collected weekly since inoculation. To date, no parasites have been found in these smears. Beginning three weeks ago, whole blood has been sent to Dr. Dorn at Loyola to be tested for parasite DNA. PCR results were not clean but five animals have consistently shown bands positive for T.cruzi DNA. I am working on sending her na¿ve blood to determine if the other bands are primate DNA or some other contamination. Meanwhile, none of the scheduled vaccinations have occurred. A total of three DNA vaccines spaced 30 days apart were scheduled to begin last month.