Efficacy of Leishmania donovani ribosomal P1 gene as DNA vaccine in experimental visceral leishmaniasis

► A 336 bp ORF of ribosomal P1 of Leishmania donovani used as protein or DNA vaccine in hamster model. ► Protein vaccine failed to cause any protection, showed high IL-10 and IFNγ but low IL-12. ► Double dose immunization with DNA vaccine resisted the increase in spleen parasite burden by 75.68%. ► DNA Vaccine induced a Th-1 type of cytokine profile with high IL-12, IFNγ and low IL-10. ► DNA vaccine shows potential as a vaccine candidate.