MOLECULAR AND ANTIGENIC CHARACTERIZATION OF THE LEISHMANIA (VIANNIA) PANAMENSIS KINETOPLASTID MEMBRANE PROTEIN-11

The kinetoplastid membrane protein 11 (KMP-11) has been recently descr ibed in Leishmania (Leishmania) donovani as a major component of the p romastigote membrane. Two oligonucleotide printers were synthesized to PCR-amplify the entire coding region of New World Leishmania species. The Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis amplification product was cloned, sequenced and the putative amino acid sequence determined. A remarkab ly high degree of sequence homology was observed with the correspondin g molecule of L. (L) donovani and L. (L) infantum (97% and 96%, respec tively). Southern blot analysis showed that the KMP-11 locus is confor med by three copies of the gene. The L. (V) panamensis ORF was subsequ ently clotted in a high expression vector and the recombinant protein was induced and purified from Escherichia coli cultures. Immunoblot an alysis showed that 80%, 77% and 100% sera from cutaneous, mucocutaneou s and visceral leishmaniasis patients, respectively, recognized the re combinant KMP-11 protein. In a similar assay, 86% of asymptomatic Leis hmania-infected individuals showed IgG antibodies against the rKMP-11. We propose that KMP-11 could be used as a serologic marker for infect ion and disease caused by Leishmania in America.