EVALUATION OF THE ROLE OF MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF KALA-AZAR DISEASE

Despite the recognition of the parasite responsible for leishmaniasis in the world, unfortunately this disease is still considered as an endemic disease in many countries of the world and is spreading even with the predictions made. This trend is also observed in Iran. Considering this importance, the aim of this study is to investigate the effect of monoclonal antibodies in the diagnosis of Kalaazar disease, which is the visceral type of leishmaniasis.

Leishmania infantum promastigote forms were prepared in a special culture medium and then BALB/c mice were immunized with these forms. The mouse with the best response was selected and its spleen cells were merged with myeloma SP2/o cells. After the formation of hybridoma cells, specific antibody-producing cells were prepared as single clones.

In this study, five clones 3E6 FIII3, 3E6 FIII4, 2C4 FII5, 2C4 FII3, and 2C4 FII2 were obtained. Among them, 3E6 FIII4, 2C4 FII5 and 2C4 FII2 monoclones which had the highest ODs were selected for investigation.

Although these antibodies are not able to distinguish between different species of Leishmania parasite, but it seems that they can be used to further investigate Leishmania parasite antigens and also to diagnose Leishmaniasis.