A Leishmania donovani dominant-negative mutant for eIF2α kinase LdeK1 elicits host-protective immune response

Dominant-negative mutation of LdeK1 gene, an eIF2 alpha kinase from Leishmania donovani, revealed its role in translation regulation in response to nutrient starvation earlier. However, whether the kinase influences the infectivity of the parasites which naturally encounters nutrient deprivation during its life cycle was interesting to investigate. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments resulted in decrease of the parasite burden in peritoneal macrophages and in splenic/ hepatic load, respectively. An insight into the immune response of mice infected with mutant parasite showed enhanced pro-inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide levels but reduced T(H)2 and Treg population. The significantly reduced loss of infectivity of the parasites lacking a functional LdeK1 by modulating the immune response towards host protection makes it a potential vaccine candidate against Leishmaniasis.