Ref. PNA agglutination of Leishmania promastigotes

Paulo F. P. Pimenta pimenta at netra.cpqrr.fiocruz.br
Fri Jul 11 17:35:00 BRT 1997


Dr. Moreno is asking how to separate L. infantum by the PNA agglutination
method. This method was developed for the L. major according the
characteristic of the LPG molecules. The LPG molecules in L.major procyclic
consist of repeat of Galoctose residues with a variety of saccharide
chains. During metacyclogenises, both the number  and sacharide composition
of the repeat unis are developmentlly modified, the majority of
Gal-containing side chains expressed by procyclics are down-regulated
during metacyclogenese in favor of repeats units expressing terminal
alfa-arabinopyranose. Because of this characteristic aspect of the LPG in
L.major, it is possible to agglutinate the procyclics and not the
metacyclic (see ref. in Sacks et. J. Immunol. 135, 564, 1985). Separate L.
infantum using lectin agglutination method will not work without a previous
knowlodege of the saccharide composition of the mainly molecules expressed
over the parasite surface and how they do change during the
metacyclogenesis.
Paulo Pimenta





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