LEISHMANIA ANTIGENS-BIOCHEMICAL AND IMMUNOLOGIC STUDIES

该提案主要集中于描述与相关的抗原 利什曼病的保护性免疫及其临床诊断 疾病（即黑热病）以及进一步了解 寄生虫的生物学（即它在昆虫体内的生存和 哺乳动物宿主）。 这些项目将涉及生物学学科， 免疫学、分子生物学和生物化学。 单克隆抗体和 分子生物学技术将用于识别和分离分子 利什曼原虫（特定阶段和保护性）。 该提案的具体目标是： 1. 开发可靠、特异的血清学诊断方法 内脏利什曼病。 2. 鉴定预防利什曼原虫感染的抗原 多诺瓦尼。 3. 进一步生产无鞭毛体特异性单克隆抗体 无鞭毛体阶段。 4. 生化、生物学和分子生物学表征 利什曼原虫阶段特异性抗原（前鞭毛体和无鞭毛体）。 5. 阶段特异性抗原生产效果评价 体内模型系统中的保护性免疫。 6. 阐明保护性免疫产生的机制 阶段特异性抗原和交叉反应抗原。 7. 受感染巨噬细胞上的利什曼原虫抗原分析。

This proposal is primarily focused on delineating the antigens relevant for protective immunity against leishmaniasis and clinical diagnosis of the disease (i.e., Kala-azar) as well as developing a further understanding of the biology of the parasite (i.e., its survival within its insect and mammalian hosts). The projects will involve the disciplines of biology, immunology, molecular biology and biochemistry. Monoclonal antibodies and molecular biology techniques will be used to identify and isolate molecules (stage specific and protective) of Leishmania. The specific aims of the proposal are: 1. Development of a reliable, specific serological diagnostic assay for visceral leishmaniasis. 2. Identification of antigens protective against infection with Leishmania donovani. 3. Further production of amastigote specific monoclonal antibodies to the amastigote stage. 4. Biochemical, biological and molecular biological characterization of stage-specific antigens (promastigote and amastigote) of Leishmania. 5. Evaluation of stage-specific antigens effectiveness of producing protective immunity in in vivo model systems. 6. Elucidation of mechanisms involved in protective immunity produced to both stage specific and cross-reactive antigens. 7. Analysis of Leishmania antigens on infected macrophages.