Expression of protozoan antigens by hybrids between Leishmania mexicana and myeloma SP2/0

Hybrid cells were obtained between Leishmania mexicana promastigotes and mouse myeloma SP2/0 cells, and examined for expression of leishmanial antigens. A ratio of 1:10 of myeloma to T. cruzi cells was unsuccessful because of outgrowth of non-fused cells. With a ratio of 2:1 four waves of multiplication of ‘chimeric’ cells were observed over 45 days. The death of the hybrids after this period is explained by segregation of DNA and loss of chromosome material. Hybrid cells gave a positive reaction with antibodies in the sera from patients infected with Leishmania, as demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence. Conversely, promastigote forms of Leishmania gave a negative reaction with the same antibodies, which recognize surface antigens of the amastigote stage of Leishmania. It is possible therefore that amastigote stage antigens are expressed on the surface of the ‘chimeric’ hybrid as a result of transformation of promastigotes following hybridization.