The development of a vaccine that brings schistosomiasis
under immunological control has been the goal of many investigators
all over the world for decades. This study characterizes
the pharmacological profile of the NUN vaccine, a newly
proposed Schistosomiasis vaccine formulated by a group of
Egyptian investigators in the National Research Center and
contains a chemically modified Biomphalaria Alexandrina Snail
antigen. The effects of the vaccine on isolated tissue preparations
(mammalian heart, rabbit's intestine, toad's rectus
abdominis muscle) and on the blood pressure of conscious rats
were determined. Possible changes in biochemical parameters
related to the liver and kidney functions were also detected.
Thus, total plasma proteins, albumin, bilirubin level, liver
enzymes such alkaline phosphatase, SGOT and SGPT, plasma
uric acid, urea and creatinine were all monitored. The effects
of the vaccine on reducing the worm burden, inducing body
immune response through raising the IgG titre and on
reducing the incidence of pathological changes in organs from
mice vaccinated then infected compared to mice infected
without vaccination (prophylactic effect) and also in mice
infected then vaccinated (curative effect) were all investigated.
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