The fucose-mannose ligand (FML) complex of Leishmania donovani is a promising vaccine
candidate against murine and canine visceral leishmaniasis, and its main component is a 36-
kDa nucleoside hydrolase (NH36). In this study, we tested the immune response and
protection induced by the purified FML, the recombinant NH36 (rNH36), and NH36 DNA
vaccines against the agents of visceral (L. chagasi) and cutaneous (L. mexicana)
leishmaniasis in BALB/c mice. Mice developed weak humoral response to the vaccines …

MATERIALS AND METHODS Purification of the FML complex. Isolation of the FML
glycoproteic complex from stationary-phase L. donovani promastigotes (LD1S/MHOM/SD/00-
strain 1S) was carried out as previously described (13, 50). Brieffy, promastigotes were
subjected to an aqueous extraction, followed by heat inactivation and centrifugation. The
aqueous supernatant was lyophilized and fractionated by gel filtration on a Bio-Gel P-10
column, yielding the FML complex (13, 50). The FML vaccine is registered as a patent under …