Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Distribution of lipophosphoglycan-associated epitopes in differentLeishmania species and in African trypanosomes

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Parasitology Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Monoclonal antibody (mAb) CA7AE binds specifically to the phosphorylated Gal-β1,4-Man disaccharide repeat epitope ofLeishmania donovani lipophosphoglycan (LPG). This mAb detected the repeat epitope in most but not all of a wide variety ofLeishmania species and strains examined. MAb CA7AE also bound to both glycoprotein and carbohydrate antigens in medium fromL. donovani promastigote cultures. Specifically, mAb CA7AE bound the delipidated form of LPG, the phosphoglycan, and a glycoprotein both of which are released into the medium by the parasite indicating that both share a specific phosphorylated carbohydrate epitope. The epitope was detected in sera fromL. donovani-infected (kala-azar positive) patients when mAb CA7AE was used in an antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). MAb L157 is specific for a protein that is found associated withL. donovani LPG, the lipophosphoglycan-associated protein (LPGAP). This mAb bound to molecules in all 19 strains (representing 9 species) ofLeishmania promastigotes and to molecules in 2 species ofTrypanosoma procyclic culture forms. This wide distribution of the LPGAP epitope implies that it may have a conserved function, for example, in the biochemistry or arrangement of parasite surface molecules. In addition, since the LPGAP is involved in the stimulation of T lymphocyte proliferation, its wide distribution amongst differentLeishmania species suggests that it may be an ideal molecule for testing as a vaccine for leishmaniasis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bates PA, Dwyer DM (1987) Biosynthesis and secretion of acid phosphatase byLeishmania donovani promastigotes. Mol Biochem Parasitol 26:289–296

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bates PA, Gottlieb M, Dwyer DM (1988)Leishmania donovani: identification of glycoproteins released by promastigotes during growth in vitro. Exp Parasitol 67:199–209

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bates PA, Hermes I, Dwyer DM (1990) Golgi-mediated post-translational processing of secretory acid phosphatase byLeishmania donovani promastigotes. Mol Biochem Parasitol 39:247–256

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beecroft RP, Roditi I, Pearson TW (1993) Identification and characterization of an acidic major surface glycoprotein from procyclic stageTrypanosoma congolense. Mol Biochem Parasitol 61:285–294

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham I (1973) New culture medium for maintenance of tsetse tissues and growth of trypanosomatids. J Protozool 24:325–329

    Google Scholar 

  • Dwyer DM (1977)Leishmania donovani; surface membrane carbohydrates of promastigotes. Exp Parasitol 41:341–358

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Githure JI, Schnur LF, Le Blancq SM, Hendricks LD (1986) Characterization of KenyanLeishmania spp. and identification ofMastomys natalensis, Taterillus emini, andAethomys kaiseri as new hosts ofLeishmania major. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 80:501–507

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glaser TA, Moody SF, Handman E, Bacic A, Spithill TW (1991) An antigenically distinct lipophosphoglycan on amastigotes ofLeishmania major. Mol Biochem Parasitol 45:337–344

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greenblatt CL, Slutzky GM, De Ibarra AAL, Snary DJJ (1983) Monoclonal antibodies for serotypingLeishmania strains. J Clin Microbiol 18:191–193

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greis KD, Turco SJ, Thomas JR, McConville MJ, Homans SW, Ferguson MAJ (1992) Purification and characterization of an extracellular phosphoglycan fromLeishmania donovani. J Biol Chem 267:5876–5881

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Handman E (1986) Leishmaniasis: antigens and host-parasite interactions. In: Pearson TW (ed) Parasite antigens: toward new strategies for vaccines. Marcel Dekker, New York, pp 5–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Handman E (1990) Study ofLeishmania major-infected macrophages by use of lipophosphoglycan-specific monoclonal antibodies. Infect Immun 58:2297–2302

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Handman E, Goding JW (1985) TheLeishmania receptor for macrophages is a lipid containing glycoconjugate. EMBO J 4:329–336

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Handman E, Mitchell GFM (1985) Immunization withLeishmania receptor for macrophages protects mice against cutaneous leishmaniasis. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 82:5910–5914

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Handman E, Hocking RE, Mitchell GF, Spithill TW (1983) Isolation and characterization of infective and non-infective clones ofL. major. Mol Biochem Parasitol 7:111–126

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Handman E, Greenblatt CL, Goding JW (1984) An amphipathic sulphated glycoconjugate ofLeishmania characterized with monoclonal antibodies. EMBO J 3:2301–2306

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobsen RL, Schnur LF, Greenblatt CL (1989) Variation inLeishmania species expressed by antigenic glycoconjugates and excreted factor. In: Hart DT (ed) Leishmaniasis, current status and new strategies for control. (NATO ASI series A, vol 163), Plenum, New York, pp. 401–408

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaffe CL, Sarfstein R (1987) Species-specific antibodies toLeishmania tropica (minor) recognize somatic antigens and exometabolites. J Immunol 139:1310–1319

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jaffe CL, Perez ML, Schnur LF (1990) Lipophosphoglycan and secreted acid phosphatase ofLeishmania tropica share species-specific epitopes. Mol Biochem Parasitol 41:233–240

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jardim A, Tolson DL, Turco SJ, Pearson TW, Olafson RW (1991) TheLeishmania donovani lipophosphoglycan T-lymphocyte reactive component is a tightly associated protein complex. J Immunol 147:3538–3543

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • King DL, Turco SJ (1988) A ricin agglutinin-resistant clone ofLeishmania donovani deficient in lipophosphoglycan. Mol Biochem Parasitol 28:285–294

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McConville MJ, Thomas-Oates JE, Ferguson MAJ, Homans SW (1990) Structure of the lipophosphoglycan fromLeishmania major. J Biol Chem 265:19611–19623

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McNeely TB, Tolson DL, Pearson TW, Turco SJ (1990) Characterization ofLeishmania donovani variant clones using antilipophosphoglycan monoclonal antibodies. Glycobiology 1:63–69

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neva FA, Wyler D, Nash T (1979) Cutaneous Leishmaniasis — a case with persistent organisms after treatment in presence of normal immune response. Am J Trop Med Hyg 28:167–171

    Google Scholar 

  • Orlandi PA, Turco SJ (1987) Structure of the lipid moiety of theLeishmania donovani lipophosphoglycan. J Biol Chem 262:10384–10391

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Richardson JP, Jenni L, Beecroft RP, Pearson TW (1986) Procyclic tsetse fly midgut forms and culture forms of African trypanosomes share stage and species-specific surface antigens recognized by monoclonal antibodies. J Immunol 136:2259–2264

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Richardson JP, Beecroft RP, Tolson DL, Liu MK, Pearson TW (1988) Procyclin: an unusual immunodominant surface antigen from the procyclic stage of African trypanosomes. Mol Biochem Parasitol 31:203–216

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schnur LF (1982) The immunological identification and characterization of leishmanial stocks and strains, with special reference to excreted factor serotyping. In: Chance ML, Watson BE (eds) Biochemical characterization ofLeishmania, United Nations Development Programme/World Bank/WHO, Geneva, pp.25–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Schnur LF, Zuckerman A, Greenblatt CL (1972) Leishmanial serotypes as distinguished by the gel diffusion of factors excreted in vitro and in vivo. Isr J Med Sci 8:932–942

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schnur LF, Sarfstein R, Jaffe CL (1990) Monoclonal antibodies against leishmanial membranes react with specific excreted factors (EF). Ann Trop Med Parasitol 84:447–456

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sigurdson, AG (1992) Structural and functional characterization of the secreted acid phosphatase produced byLeishmania donovani. MSc Thesis, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada

    Google Scholar 

  • Tolson DL, Turco SJ, Beecroft RP, Pearson TW (1989) The immunochemical structure and surface arrangement ofLeishmania donovani lipophosphoglycan determined using monoclonal antibodies. Mol Biochem Parasitol 35:109–118

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tolson DL, Turco SJ, Pearson TW (1990) Expression of a repeating phosphorylated disaccharide lipophosphoglycan epitope on the surface of macrophages infected withLeishmania donovani. Infect Immun 58:3500–3507

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Turco SJ (1990) The leishmanial lipophosphoglycan: a multifunctional molecule. Exp Parasitol 70:241–245

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Turco SJ, Descoteaux A (1992) The lipophosphoglycan ofLeishmania parasites. Annu Rev Microbiol. 46:65–94

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Turco SJ, Sacks DL (1991) Expression of a stage-specific lipophosphoglycan inLeishmania major amastigotes. Mol Biochem Parasitol 45:91–100

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Turco SJ, Wilkerson MA, Clawson DR (1984) Expression of an unusual acidic glycoconjugate inLeishmania donovani. J Biol Chem 259:3883–3889

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Turco SJ, Orlandi PA, Homans SW, Ferguson AJ, Dwek RA, Rademacher TW (1989) Structure of the phosphosaccharide-inositol core of theLeishmania donovani lipophosphoglycan. J Biol Chem 264:6711–6715

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, V8W 3P6, Victoria, B.C., Canada

    Douglas L. Tolson, Armando Jardim & Terry W. Pearson

  2. Department of Parasitology, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Ein Keren, Jerusalem, Israel

    Lionel F. Schnur

Authors
  1. Douglas L. Tolson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lionel F. Schnur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Armando Jardim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Terry W. Pearson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tolson, D.L., Schnur, L.F., Jardim, A. et al. Distribution of lipophosphoglycan-associated epitopes in differentLeishmania species and in African trypanosomes. Parasitol Res 80, 537–542 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00932704

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00932704

Keywords

Search

Navigation