Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Parasitology 1735-7020 11 4 2016 12 25 480 488 Hakim AZIZI Dept. of Medical Parasitology, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran AND Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Bahram KAZEMI Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Dept. of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mojgan BANDEHPOUR Dept. of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mehdi MOHEBALI Dept. of Medical Parasitology, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran AND Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Ali KHAMESIPOUR Skin and Leprosy Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mojgan ARYAEIPOUR Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Hajar YAGHOOBI Dept. of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Bagher ROKNI Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2016 12 25 2016 12 25 Background: The current study was designed to evaluate immune responses induced by DNA vaccines encoding 8-kDa subunit of antigen B (HydI) of Echinococcus granulosus and murine interleukin 12 (IL-12) as genetic adjuvants in BALB/c mice. Methods: Expression plasmid pcDNA3.1 containing HydI (pcHyd1) as vaccine along with the murine interleukin 12 (pcMIL12) as adjuvant were used. Thirty-five mice in the five experimental groups received PBS, empty pcDNA3.1, pcHydІ, pcMIL-12, and pcHydІ+ pcMIL-12 in days zero, 14th and 28th. Two weeks after the last immunization, evaluation of the immune response was performed by evaluating the proliferation of splenic lymphocytes, IFN-γ and IL-4, determination of IgG isotyping titer. Results: Mice that received the pcHydI+pcMIL12 exhibited higher levels of lymphocyte proliferation compared to mice that received the pcHydI alone (P<0.001), and produced significantly more IFN-γ in comparison to other groups (P< 0.001). In addition, they produced significantly less IL-4 than mice receiving the PBS and the empty plasmid (P<0.023). The IgG2a levels were clearly higher in pcHydI+pcMIL12 group in comparison with the groups of pcHydI alone, empty plasmid, and PBS. In contrast, IgG1 was elevated in the group of pcHydI. Conclusion: Co-delivery of IL-12 with DNA encoding 8-kDa subunit of antigen B was effective significantly in inducing the immune response in mice. https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/view/1347 https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/download/1347/625