FIG. 1.

Clinical outcomes following L. donovani challenge in BALB/c mice immunized via four different routes. Mice were immunized three times with 20 μg of LAg, alone or entrapped in liposomes, at 2-week intervals through the i.p., i.v., s.c., and i.m. routes. Control groups received nothing or empty liposomes (Lip) through the respective routes. Ten days after the last immunization, the mice were challenged intravenously with 2.5 × 10⁷ promastigotes of L. donovani. The parasite loads in the livers and spleens of i.p. (A and B), i.v. (C and D), s.c. (E and F), and i.m. (G and H) immunized animals are expressed in Leishman Donovan units. Data represent mean values ± standard errors (SE) for five mice per group at the designated time points and are representative of two independent experiments with similar results. #, P < 0.05; *, P < 0.01; **, P < 0.001 for comparison to control groups (mice left unimmunized or immunized with empty liposomes by the respective routes).