SALIVARY-GLAND MATERIAL FROM THE SAND FLY LUTZOMYIA-LONGIPALPIS HAS AN INHIBITORY EFFECT ON MACROPHAGE FUNCTION IN-VITRO

Previous work from our laboratory demonstrated that the infectivity of the protozoan parasite Leishmania major was enhanced in mice if the i nfecting inoculum contained salivary gland lysates from the sandfly ve ctor Lutzomyia longipalpis. The present study was designed to address the hypothesis that sand fly salivary gland material may function by i nhibiting the host immune response. Results indicated that sand fly sa liva inhibited the ability of macrophages to present leishmanial antig ens to parasite-specific T cells.