Leishmania braziliensis: cell surface differences in promastigotes of pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains

A comparative study of cell surface characteristics of pathogenic and nonpathogenic promastigotes of Leishmania braziliensis, NR and LBY strains, respectively, was carried out by means of concanavalin A agglutination and labeling with concanavalin A-fluorescein isothiocyanate, concanavalin A-ferritin, and cationized ferritin. Cytochemical examination showed cell surface differences in lectin receptors and negative charge moieties in the two strains of L. braziliensis. The pathogenic NR strain agglutinated with low concentrations of concanavalin A and presented abundant lectin-binding and cationized ferritin-binding surface labeling. The nonpathogenic LBY strain neither agglutinated when incubated with concanavalin A, bound lectins, or cationized ferritin at the cell surface.