Development of Leishmanial Antigens as Diagnostics

Leishmania are protozoan parasites of worldwide distribution. They cause a variety of humandiseases affecting at least 150 million people. No effective vaccines or efficient diagnostic tests areavailable. This project is designed to identify sensitive and specific serodiagnostic antigens to distinguishinfection with Leishmania donovani, which causes the fatal visceral form of lishmaniasis, from otherdiseases with similar symptoms. Recombinant antigens and synthetic peptides will be evaluated in anELISA using sera from patients with visceral lishmaniasis and other infections. In addition to serologicaltests, intradermal skin tests are an essential diagnostic tool. These consist of leishmanial antigens thatstimulate T cell responses. Such antigens will be evaluated in vitro using patient T cells. Selectedantigens will then be evaluated in guinea pigs previously sensitized with Leishmania. These studies willlead to the production of a kit for the serological diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis as well as to theproduction of leishmanial antigens that can be developed as skin test reagents.