major amastin antigen in BALB/c mice model.We evaluated the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of plasmid DNA vaccines encoding amastin-Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP) and VP22-amastin-EGFP.Optimal cellmediated immune responses were observed in BALB/c mice immunized with VP22-amastin-EGFP as assessed by cytokine gene expression analysis using real time RT-PCR.Vaccination with the VP22-amastin-EGFP fusion construct elicited significantly higher IFN-g response upon antigen stimulation of splenocytes from immunized mice compared to the administration of VP22 or EGFP or amastin single antigens, consequently inducing a Th1 response.Mice immunized by VP22-amastin-EGFP showed partial protection following infectious challenge with L. major, as observed by parasite load in spleens.These results suggest that the development of DNA vaccines encoding VP22 fused to a target Leishmania antigen would be a promising strategy to improve immunogenicity and DNA vaccine potency.