causes susceptibility to infectious disease, especially tuberculosis. Development of new tuberculosis vaccine will be an important strategy to eliminate tuberculosis in kwashiorkor. Previous research showed that 38-kDa Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein is one of the potent immunogen. However, the role of oral immunization with 38- kDa Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein to the number of lymphocytes in the rat model of kwashiorkor is still unknown. We used kwashiorkor rat model groups with 4% and 2% low protein diet. Oral immunization with 38-kDa Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein given with 2 booster every week. The lymphocytes number were measured by flowcytometry. There was no significant difference between the number of lymphocytes in the normal rat group and the kwashiorkor rat groups. It may reveal the role of 38-kDa Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein as a potent immunogen that can increase the lymphocytes number from kwashiorkor rat model same as normal rat. Keywords—kwashiorkor rat, lymphocytes, 38-kDa Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein I. INTRODUCTION WASHIORKOR is one of the nutritional problems in Indonesia, caused by low dietary intake of protein.[1] It is a type of malnutrition which happens mostly on children, eventhough it could also happen on adult person. It is caused by protein deficiency combined with energy and micro nutrient essence deficiency. Decline in nutritional status is related with the loss of protection to infectious diseases, caused by decreased humoral and cellular immunity. So that kwashiorkor persons susceptible to infectious diseases, one of which is tuberculosis.[2]-[4] Tuberculosis is a major health problems in Indonesia. Indonesia is the third contributors of tuberculosis cases in the world, after India and China. Mortality which caused by tuberculosis in Indonesia is approximately 140.000 per years.[5] Therefore, the data shows the need of ways to take care of tuberculosis maximally, such as by finding the case immediately, appropriate medical treatment, and vaccination. Novi Khila Firani is with The Biomolecular-Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brawijaya, Indonesia. (phone: +62-341- 557722; fax: +62-341-557722 (e-mail: novikhila@ yahoo.com). Elisa Nesdyaningtyas is with The Nutrition Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brawijaya, Indonesia. (e-mail: eliza_nesdya @yahoo.com). . Malnutrition is an important risk factor for tuberculosis suggests that malnutrition can lead to secondary immunodeficiency that increases the host’s susceptibility to infections.[7] The recent finding showed that the development of vaccine based on the adhesin of bacteria molecule is effective. Adhesin bacterial which combined with potent adjuvant mucosal as mucosal delivery system, is a promising approach for mucosal vaccine.[8]-[10] The previous research gained result that 38-kDa Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein was an adhesin protein on mouse enterosit and administration of it orally can induce CD4+ T lymphocyte and CD8+ T lymphocyte in intestine and lung of mice.[11],[12] Whether on kwashiorkor rat, the effect of 38-kDA Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein toward the lymphocyte count in the blood as cellular immunity is not found yet. II. MATERIAL AND METHODS A. Experimental Design This research is a true experimental laboratory using rat as an animal model. Rats were divided in 3 groups: normal rat group with normal diet, and kwashiorkor rat groups which is given with 2% and 4% protein diet. Each of rat group is treated by 38-kDa M. tuberculosis adhesin protein with concentration 100μL/100gr body weight orally for 3 weeks. B. Kwashiorkor Rat Model Rattus novergicus strain wistar male, age 4 weeks is given with low protein diet 2% and 4%, for 6 weeks. The food composition of low protein diet refers to Kaladhar et al.[13] with modification. Whether the food composition as follows: 1.Standard (normal) diet Normal diet is a confeed-pars, consist of protein 11%, fat 4%, fiber 7%, calsium 1,1%, phospor, coccidiostat 0,9%, and wheat flour 33,4%. 2. The 2% protein diet from total calorie Composition of this food are: sugar cane, wheat flour, vegetable oil. The composition of nutrient are carbohydrates 50%, protein 2% and fat 31%. 3. The 4% protein diet from total calorie Composition of this food are: sugar cane, wheat flour, vegetable oil. The nutrient composition are carbohydrates 50%, protein 4% and fat 29%. The Lymphocytes Number in the Blood of Kwashiorkor Rat Model Induced by Oral Immunization with 38-kDa Mycobacterium tuberculosis Protein Novi Khila Firani, Elisa Nesdyaningtyas K Indonesia, which lead to decrease immune system. This condition defense against TB.[2],[6] The experimental evidence Abstract—Kwashiorkor is one of nutritional problem in (TB) because cell-mediated immunity (CMI) is the key host World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Biotechnology and Bioengineering Vol:6, No:9, 2012 661 International Scholarly and Scientific Research & Innovation 6(9) 2012 scholar.waset.org/1307-6892/10840 International Science Index, Biotechnology and Bioengineering Vol:6, No:9, 2012 waset.org/Publication/10840