In vitro and In vivo Studies for Development of a Leishmaniasis Vaccine.

Abstract : The goal of this Contract is to identify antigens of Leishmania that could serve as candidates for an antileishmanial vaccine. To accomplish this goal, monoclonal antibodies against Leishmania major promastigotes have been developed as analytic and preparative reagents. In the second year of Contract (covered by this report) we prepared 11 additional monoclonal antibodies (all IgC3) and expanded 4 in ascites. We used immunoprecipitation of metabolically labeled promastigote antigens and Western blot analysis to begin our assessment of the epitopes recognized by some of these monoclonal antibodies. We developed a radioimmunoassay to assess parasite antigens expressed on the surface of infected macrophage-like cells (P388D1) as a mans of screening for monoclonal antibodies that recognize antigens. These studies are being conducted in anticipation of employing the monoclonal antibodies for immunoaffinity purification of antigens that can be tested in vivo for their potential as vaccines. Keywords: Vaccines; Leishmaniasis; Monoclonal antibodies; Antigens; Promastigotes; Macrophages; Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; Radioimmunoassay. (kt)