Proteomic-based Studies on Leishmania

Leishmania is a protozoan parasite responsible for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Protozoan parasites of the genus leishmania are found as promastigotes in the sandfly vector and as amastigotes in mammalian macrophages. Mechanisms controlling stage-regulated gene expression in these organisms are poorly understood. Gene regulation in leishmania, like other trypanosomatides, performs in posttranscriptional and posttranslational levels. However, the correlation between mRNA content and protein contents is poor in these parasites. The completion of the genome sequence of several species of Leishmania has had a significant effect on the pathogenesis researches of Leishmaniasis. The prevalence of parasites becoming resistant to anti- leishmania drugs is increasing in several parts of the world including Iran. As protein is the most important target for drugs in response to a variety of signals including drugs, so, it seems protein profiles in both of the sensitive and resistant leishmania parasites could greatly promise about the mechanisms of responses to antileishmanial drugs. Also, many studies have been carried out to determine the factors associated with leishmania infection as well as their molecular mechanisms. In such studies, the new proteomics technology has been of great value. In fact one of the main objectives of proteomics is to identify and discover the disease-related pathologies and novel drug targets. In the current review article, proteomics- based studies investigating leishmania spp. are introduced.