Characterization of Leishmania donovani variant clones using anti-lipophosphoglycan monoclonal antibodies.

Monoclonal antibodies directed against the lipophosphoglycan of Leishmania donovani were used to characterize two glycosylation variants of the parasite. One of the variants was found to be totally deficient in the synthesis and expression of lipophosphoglycan. The other variant synthesized lower levels (20%) of the glycoconjugate compared to wildtype cells and its lipophosphoglycan was smaller in size. The two lipophosphoglycan-deficient clones will be useful for elucidating the biosynthesis and function of the glycoconjugate.