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

Monoclonal antibodies directed against the lipophosphoglycan of Leishmania donovani</it> were used to characterize two glyco-sylation 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 lipo-phosphoglycan-deficient clones will be useful for elucidating the biosynthesis and function of the glycoconjugate.