RESUMO
The Fucose-Mannose Ligand (FML) of Leishmania donovani is a complex glycoproteic fraction. Its potential use as a tool for diagnosis of human visceral leishmaniasis was tested with human sera from Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The FML-ELISA test, showed 100 per cent sensitivity and 96 per cent specificity, identifying patients with overt kala-azar (p < 0.001, when compared to normal sera), and subjects with subclinical infection. More than 20 per cent apparently healthy subjects with positive reaction to FML developed overt kala-azar during the following 10 months. In the screening of human blood donnors, a prevalence of 5 per cent of sororeactive subjects was detected, attaining 17 per cent in a single day. The GP36 glycoprotein of FHL is specifically reconized by human kala-azar sera. The immunoprotective effect of FML on experimental L. donovani infection was tested in swiss albino mice. The protection scheemes included three weekly doses of FML, supplemented or not with saponin by the subcutaneous or intraperitoneal routes and challenge with 2 x 10(7) amastigotes of Leishmania donovani. An enhancement of 80.0 per cent in antibody response (p < 0.001) and reduction of 85.5 per cent parasite liver burden (p < 0.001) was detected in animals immunized with FML saponin, unrespectively of the immunization route.