In Vitro and In Vivo Studies for Development of a Leishmaniasis Vaccine.

Abstract

The purpose of the work supported by this contract is to identify antigens of Leishmania that could serve as candidates for an antileishmanisasis vaccine. To accomplish this goal, monoclonal antibodies against Leishmania promastigotes are being developed as analytic and preparative reagents. In the first year of the contract (period covered by this report) five anti-L. major monoclonal antibodies were obtained by fusion of spleen cells from a mouse immunized with fixed promastigotes in adjuvant, and over 60 were obtained from an infected mouse. Two monoclonals of interest were purified from ascites fluid. All were IgM, k isortype. Monoclonal 1B1 was chosen from those screened for its high titer, reactivity with the surface of infected macrophages, and with secreted/excreted products of promastigotes. 1B1 was purified from ascites and is being used in immunoprecipitation assays of Sulfur 35 methionine-labelled promastigote lysates. Preliminary results indicates it recognizes an epitope on proteins with Mr 95, 88, 68, and 43kd. Additional monoclonal antibodies are being produced to select ones with IgG isotype. Efforts to utilize these antibodies for affinity purification of antigens are being initiated to permit subsequent in vivo assessment of their vaccine potential. Keywords: Antigens; ELISA assay; Immunofluorescence; Macrophages; Serodiagnosis; Immunoglobin.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1986
Accession Number
ADA179192

Entities

People

  • David J. Wyler

Organizations

  • Tufts University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Antibodies
  • Cells
  • Contracts
  • Leishmania
  • Leishmaniasis
  • Macrophages
  • Methionine
  • Proteins
  • Reactivities
  • Serodiagnosis
  • Sulfur
  • Vaccines

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Immunology
  • Infectious Disease/Epidemiology
  • Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology
  • Biotechnology - Cancer Biotech