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Recognition of Immunoreactive Proteins in Leishmania infantum Amastigote-Like and Promastigote Using Sera of Visceral Leishmaniasis Patients: a Preliminary Study

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Abstract

Purpose

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a systemic and parasitic disease that is usually fatal if left untreated. VL is endemic in different parts of Iran and is caused mainly by Leishmania infantum. This study aimed to recognition immunoreactive proteins in amastigote-like and promastigote stages of L. infantum (Iranian strain) by antibodies present in the sera of VL patients.

Methods

Total protein extract from amastigote-like and promastigote cells was separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE). To detect the immunoreactive proteins, 2DE immunoblotting method was performed using different pools of VL patients’ sera.

Results

Approximately 390 and 430 protein spots could be separated in 2DE profiles of L. infantum amastigote-like and promastigote stages, respectively. In immunoblotting method, approximately 295 and 135 immunoreactive proteins of amastigotes-like reacted with high antibody titer serum pool and low antibody titer serum pool, respectively. Approximately 120 and 85 immunoreactive proteins of promastigote extract were recognized using the high antibody titer sera pool and low antibody titer sera, respectively.

Conclusion

The present study has recognized a number of antigenic diversity proteins based on the molecular weight and pH in amastigote-like and promastigote stages of L. infantum. These results provide us a new concept for further analysis development in the field of diagnosis biomarkers and vaccine targets.

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Data availability

The datasets analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Institute for Medical Research Development (NIMAD) (Grant No. 958753).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P. O. Box: 1417613151, Tehran, Iran

    Soudabeh Heidari, Homa Hajjaran, Mehdi Mohebali & Behnaz Akhoundi

  2. Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mehdi Mohebali

  3. Human Genetics Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Javad Gharechahi

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SH: investigation, formal analysis, visualization, and writing—original draft; HH: conceptualization, supervision, project administration, funding acquisition, validation, and resources; MM: editing of manuscript; BA: resources and investigation; JG: editing of manuscript and English correction of the final draft.

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Correspondence to Homa Hajjaran.

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This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. (Ethics Approval No. IR-TUMS-VCR-REC-1395–721).

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Heidari, S., Hajjaran, H., Mohebali, M. et al. Recognition of Immunoreactive Proteins in Leishmania infantum Amastigote-Like and Promastigote Using Sera of Visceral Leishmaniasis Patients: a Preliminary Study. Acta Parasit. 69, 533–540 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11686-023-00764-0

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