Antiserum directed against cell surface antigens is lethal to Leishmania donovani promastigotes.

ABSTRACT

The purified flagellar fraction of Leishmania donovani promastigotes consists of 30-35 polypeptides. Antiserum raised against this fraction reacts with both flagella and pellicular membrane antigens as evident from immunoblot and immunofluorescence studies. Only 3 of these immunoreactive polypeptides are flagellum-specific. The antiserum agglutinates the cells and inhibits their growth in liquid culture medium. Moreover, glucose uptake and glucose-stimulated oxygen uptake of the promastigotes are significantly inhibited by the antiserum. The results indicate that the antiserum has a profound lethal effect on the in vitro propagation of the parasite.