Chimeric protein, method of production and use thereof, and also a nucleic acid molecule, expression cassette, expression vector, host cell, composition for the diagnosis of leishmaniasis, kit for the diagnosis of leishmaniasis and method of diagnosis of leishmaniasis in vitro

A nucleic acid molecule, selected from the group comprising:

• a nucleotide sequence with at least 90% sequence identity with the sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:
• 1, SEQ ID NO:
• 3, SEQ ID NO:
• 5 and SEQ ID NO:
• 7;
• and
• nucleotide sequences encoding one of the same amino acid sequences as defined by SEQ ID NO:
• 2, 4, 6 and 8, respectively.

A method for the production of chimeric proteins, comprising the following steps:

• (a) transforming a host cell with an expression vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule whose sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:
• 1, SEQ ID NO:
• 3, SEQ ID NO:
• 5, SEQ ID NO:
• 7 and degenerate sequences thereof,
• (b) culturing the host cell to produce the chimeric proteins;
• and
• (c) isolating the chimeric proteins from said cell or from the culture medium surrounding said cell.