Inhibition of Leishmania donovani amastigote-to-promastigote transformation by infected hamster spleen lymphocyte lysates.

Leishmania donovani amastigote-to-promastigote transformation is inhibited by homogenates of infected hamster liver and spleen. This inhibitory activity is localized in the 100,000 g pellet fraction. Tests with lysates of adherent (macrophages) and nonadherent (lymphocytes) spleen cells indicated that the inhibitory activity resided in the lymphocytes, specifically in the 100,000 g pellet fraction.