The assessment of hookworm calreticulin as a potential vaccine for necatoriasis

A vaccine against the human hookworm Necator americanus is urgently required to reduce hookworm-induced morbidity in endemic areas. In the present study, recombinant hookworm calreticulin, a nominated vaccine candidate, has been tested in mice. Mice given calreticulin had 43-49% fewer worms in their lungs, compared to non-vaccinated controls, following challenge infection with infective hookworm larvae. These levels of protection were achieved in the absence of adjuvant following intraperitoneal administration of three doses of 15 microg antigen. Antigen was also encapsulated in PLG microparticles. Encapsulated calreticulin elicited higher levels of anti-calreticulin IgG1 than free antigen but failed to induce protective immunity. The protection induced by free calreticulin was associated with low levels of serum IgE and moderate lung eosinophilia whilst administration of calreticulin-loaded microparticles was associated with high levels of serum IgE and higher lung eosinophil activity, suggesting that the classical Th2 phenotype may not always be associated with protective immunity, albeit in experimental necatoriasis.