Serafim, Tiago DonatelliMalafaia, GuilhermeSilva, Marcelo EustáquioPedrosa, Maria LúciaRezende, Simone Aparecida2014-11-192014-11-192010SERAFIM, T. D. et al. Immune response to Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi infection is reduced in malnourished BALB/c mice. Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, v. 105, p. 811-817, 2010. Disponível em: <http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0074-02762010000600014>. Acesso em: 28 ago. 2014.0074-0276http://www.repositorio.ufop.br/handle/123456789/3976Protein-energy malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies may down-regulate immune response and increase morbidity and mortality due to infection. In this study, a murine model was used to study the effects of protein, iron and zinc deficiencies on the immune response to Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi infection. Mice were initially fed a standard diet or with a diet containing 3% casein but deficient in zinc and iron. After malnutrition was established, mice were inoculated with L. chagasi and sacrificed four weeks later in order to evaluate liver and spleen parasite loads and serum biochemical parameters. Significant decreases in liver and spleen weight, an increase in the parasite loads in these organs and decreases in serum protein and glucose concentrations in malnourished animals were observed. Furthermore, the production of interferon-gamma by spleen cells from infected malnourished mice stimulated by Leishmania antigen was significantly lower compared with that in control diet mice. These data suggest that malnutrition alters the immune response to L. chagasi infection in the BALB/c model and, in association with the effects on biochemical and anatomical parameters of the host, favored increases in the parasite loads in the spleens and livers of these animals.en-USVisceral leishmaniasisMalnutritionLeishmania chagasiArtigo publicado em periodicoO periódico Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz permite que o Repositório Institucional da Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP) deposite uma cópia eletrônica dos artigos publicados por esse periódico  em que ao menos um dos autores faça parte da comunidade cientifica da UFOP. Fonte: Licença concedida mediante prenchimento de formulário enviado no dia 12 dez. 2013.http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02762010000600014