# CHARACTERIZATION & CLONING OF LEISHMANIA ANTIGENS

> **NIH NIH R01** · ROYAL MELBOURNE HOSPITAL · 1992 · $74,485

## Abstract

The two hypotheses to be tested in this proposal are: (1) that
surface integral membrane proteins, other than gp63, are
functionally important for survival of both the promastigote and
amastigote of the protozoan human parasite Leishmania major; (2)
that the CD4+ T cell immune response to some of these integral
membrane proteins is an important component in the development of
immunity in mice to L.major.  Our long term objectives are to
biochemically study surface integral membrane proteins of
promastigotes and amastigotes of L.major and to clone and express
the genes for these proteins.  Cloned genes will be derived by
biochemical approaches (screening of expression libraries with
defined antisera to proteins) as well as by direct screening of
libraries using CD4+ T cells from immune mice.  In order to
establish which recombinant proteins are relevant to immunity in
vivo, the T cell response to these cloned proteins will be tested
in T cell assays using CD4+ T cells from resistant, susceptible
and  vaccinated mice.  T cell clones responding to recombinant
antigens will then be tested by adoptive transfer in mice to
assess the role of these antigens in immunity.  Once recombinant
antigens are identified which elicit a response by host-
protective CD4+ T cells, they will be tested in vaccine trials in
mice both individually, in combination with LPG and as a live
vaccine expressed in vaccinia virus.

These studies will contribute new knowledge on both the
biochemistry of surface membrane proteins of L.major as well as
the nature of the T cell response to these proteins.  These
results will have direct relevance to the rational design of
cocktail vaccines against Leishmania for eventual human use
comprising soluble and membrane proteins and glycolipid antigens.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3128718
- **Project number:** 5R01AI019347-09
- **Recipient organization:** ROYAL MELBOURNE HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** EMANUELA HANDMAN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $74,485
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1983-01-01 → 1993-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3128718

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3128718, CHARACTERIZATION & CLONING OF LEISHMANIA ANTIGENS (5R01AI019347-09). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3128718. Licensed CC0.

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