Molecular characterization of antigen 24, a specific immunodominant antigen family from Leishmania infantum.

Leishmania infantum immunoelectrophoretic antigen 24 (AG 24), a visceral leishmaniasis associated immunodominant antigen, has been characterized with a monospecific antiserum by combining SDS-PAGE, immunoblotting, metabolic labelling, radio-immunoprecipitation and in vitro poly A+ mRNA translation. AG 24 appeared to correspond to a multi-antigen family of 6-9 members ranging from 20 to 31 kDa and proteinic by nature with no post-translational modifications. A similar banding pattern was recognized by infection sera. AG 24 was not found exposed on the cell surface.