Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the
Leptospira
genus. Vaccination with
bacterins has severe limitations. Here, we evaluated the N-terminal region of the leptospiral immunoglobulin-like B
protein (LigBrep) as a vaccine candidate against leptospirosis using immunisation strategies based on DNA primeprotein
boost, DNA vaccine, and subunit vaccine. Upon challenge with a virulent strain of
Leptospira interrogans
,
the prime-boost and DNA vaccine approaches induced significant protection in hamsters, as well as a specific IgG
antibody response and sterilising immunity. Although vaccination with recombinant fragment of LigBrep also produced
a strong antibody response, it was not immunoprotective. These results highlight the potential of LigBrep as
a candidate antigen for an effective vaccine against leptospirosis and emphasise the use of the DNA prime-protein
boost as an important strategy for vaccine development.