PROTECTION OF GERBILS FROM AMEBIC LIVER-ABSCESS BY IMMUNIZATION WITH A RECOMBINANT PROTEIN-DERIVED FROM THE 170-KILODALTON SURFACE ADHESIN OF ENTAMOEBA-HISTOLYTICA

The protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica causes extensive morbidity and mortality worldwide through intestinal infection and amebic liver abscess. Here we show that vaccination of gerbils, a standard model for amebic liver abscess,,vith recombinant proteins derived from the 170-kDa galactose-binding adhesin of E. histolytica and the serine-rich E. histolytica protein or a combination of the two recombinant antigens provides excellent protection against subsequent hepatic challenge with virulent E. histolytica trophozoites.