Antigenic Relationship among Kinetoplastid Flagellates: Herpetomonas, Leishmania and Bodo

Abstract

The antigenic relationship(s) amongst kinetoplastid flagellates viz. Leishmania donovani promastigotes, Bodo indica n. sp. and Herpetomonas indica n. sp. have been evaluated using immunoelectrophoresis, indirect fluorescent antibody test, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and electroimmunotransfer blot assay. Antisera raised against the three organisms were tested with homologous and heterologous antigens. In all the assays, common antigens against three flagellates have been demonstrated against the homologous and heterologous antibodies. However, a more closer antigenic relationship between H. indica n. sp. and L. donovani antigens and antibodies was observed in all tests than B. indica n. sp. antigen and antibodies to H. indica n. sp. or L. donovani antigen and antibodies. These findings will be very useful in studies on phylogenetic relationship between Bodonina and Trypanosomatina of order Kinetoplastida.