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An improved method for detection of Leishmania amastigotes by an antibody probe against the small subunit of leishmanial ribonucleotide reductase

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Abstract

By taking advantage of an antibody raised against the small M2 subunit of ribonucleotide reductase of Leishmania that reacts with the enzyme in the nucleus of the parasite but does not cross-react with the same enzyme of the host macrophage, an improved fluorescence-staining method is developed for enumeration of leishmanial amastigotes inside the macrophage. The method offers an accurate and easy way of counting, compared with Giemsa staining.

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Fig. 1a–g

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Acknowledgements

We thank Ms. Lola Wen for her expert technical assistance. This work was supported by the National Science Council (NSC 92-2314-B-001–008 to S.T.L.).

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Correspondence to Sho Tone Lee.

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Chang, SC., Kuzmenok, O., Chiang, SC. et al. An improved method for detection of Leishmania amastigotes by an antibody probe against the small subunit of leishmanial ribonucleotide reductase. Parasitol Res 94, 243–245 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-004-1184-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-004-1184-7

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