Abstract: A novel recombinant chimera of DNA construct having esat-6 region of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and kinesin region of Leishmania donovani cloned together on two sides of self cleaving peptide in a DNA vaccine vector pVAX-1 wherein the chimeric construct is operatively linked to a transcriptional promoter thus capable of self replication and expression within the mammalian cell, and the process of preparation thereof comprising: analysis of the predicted protein sequence of kinesin motor domain and esat-6 domain using Promiscuous MHC Class-1 Binding Peptide Prediction Servers; amplification of gene coding for kinesin motor domain and esat-6 domain; cloning of kinesin esat-6 gene region in pGEM-T™ vector for sequence analysis; generation of chimeric construct by directional cloning in pVAX-1 vector.

Abstract: A novel recombinant chimera of DNA construct having esat-6 region of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and kinesin region of Leishmania donovani cloned together on two sides of self cleaving peptide in a DNA vaccine vector pVAX-1 wherein the chimeric construct is operatively linked to a transcriptional promoter thus capable of self replication and expression within the mammalian cell, and the process of preparation thereof comprising: analysis of the predicted protein sequence of kinesin motor domain and esat-6 domain using Promiscuous MHC Class-1 Binding Peptide Prediction Servers; amplification of gene coding for kinesin motor domain and esat-6 domain; cloning of kinesin esat-6 gene region in pGEM-T™ vector for sequence analysis; generation of chimeric construct by directional cloning in pVAX-1 vector.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds and methods for the detection of anti-leishmanial antibodies in individuals suspected of infection with the protozoan parasite of the genus Leishmania, where the infectious agent is an Indian strain and similar or closely related to Indian Leishmania strains. The compounds provided include polypeptides as shown in SEQ ID NO: 5 or SEQ ID NO: 6 which are useful for the detection of anti-leishmanial antibodies in individuals where the immune responses are elicited against Leishmania species of Indian strains and similar or closely related to Indian Leishmania strains, the compounds are also useful as a vaccine and therapeutic agent to prevent and treat leishmaniasis. The present invention further provides a diagnostic kit consisting of antibody raised against polypeptides as shown in SEQ ID NO: 5 or SEQ ID NO: 6 for detecting leishmanial antigens.

Abstract: The present invention provides compounds and methods for the detection of anti-leishmanial antibodies in individuals suspected of infection with the protozoan parasite of the genus Leishmania, where the infectious agent is an Indian strain and similar or closely related to Indian Leishmania strains. The compounds provided include polypeptides as shown in SEQ ID NO: 5 or SEQ ID NO: 6 which are useful for the detection of anti-leishmanial antibodies in individuals where the immune responses are elicited against Leishmania species of Indian strains and similar or closely related to Indian Leishmania strains, the compounds are also useful as a vaccine and therapeutic agent to prevent and treat leishmaniasis. The present invention further provides a diagnostic kit consisting of antibody raised against polypeptides as shown in SEQ ID NO: 5 or SEQ ID NO: 6 for detecting leishmanial antigens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel oligonucleotide primers having SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID No: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3 and SEQ ID NO: 4 for amplification of the kinesin-related gene of Leishmania species. The invention also provides a method for detecting and differentiating visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and post kala-azar-dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) causing strains of Leishmania donovani in a sample, comprising isolating DNA from a sample; amplifying the target region from the DNA using novel oligonucleotide primers and heat stable DNA polymerase to obtain amplified fragments; separating the amplified fragments and analyzing the fragments to detect and differentiate VL and PKDL causing strains of Leishmania donovani based on the banding pattern of the amplified fragments. In addition, the invention provides a diagnostic kit for detection and differentiation of VL and PKDL causing strains of the Leishmania donovani.

Abstract: The present invention provides an oligonucleotide primer pair having SEQ ID NO: 3 and SEQ ID NO: 4 for amplification of Early Secretory Antigenic Target (esat)-6-gene of Mycobacterium species. The invention also provides a method for detecting M .tuberculosis in a sample based on the amplification of esat-6 gene, comprising isolating DNA template from the sample, amplifying with the above oligonucleotide primer pair and subjecting the amplified DNA product to separation and staining to detect the presence of amplified DNA product for identifying Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the sample. The invention further provides a diagnostic kit for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.