Identification of a major 72 kilodalton surface antigen in twelve isolates of Leishmania braziliensis braziliensis.

The study of the surface antigens of Leishmania braziliensis braziliensis revealed a great homogeneity among ten strains isolated from Bolivia and two reference strains from Brazil and Belize. A 72 kDa major protein, present in all L. b. braziliensis strains, was recognized by both cutaneous and mucocutaneous human sera, but was not recognized by Kala-azar and chagasic sera. No cross-reactive antigens were found among strains of Leishmania braziliensis guyanensis, Leishmania braziliensis panamensis, Leishmania mexicana amazonensis and Leishmania donovani chagasi testing these strains with hamster and human anti-L. b. braziliensis sera. Moreover, these strains possessed major antigens with molecular weights different from those of L. b. braziliensis strains. A microheterogeneity of L. b. braziliensis surface antigens was detected for the high molecular weight antigens and seemed to be related to the isoenzymic microheterogeneity.