title: Leishmania infantum chagasi: a genome-based approach to identification of excreted/secreted proteins.
abstract: The parasitic protozoan, Leishmania, survives in harsh environments within its mammalian and sand fly hosts. Secreted proteins likely play critical roles in the parasite's interactions with its environment. As a preliminary identification of the spectrum of potential excreted/secreted (ES) proteins of Leishmania infantum chagasi (Lic), a causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis, we used standard algorithms to screen the annotated L. infantum genome for genes whose predicted protein products have an N-terminal signal peptide and lack transmembrane domains and membrane anchors. A suite of 181 candidate ES proteins were identified. These included several that were documented in the literature to be released by other Leishmania spp. Six candidate ES proteins were selected for further validation of their expression and release by different parasite stages. We found both amastigote-specific and promastigote-specific released proteins. The ES proteins of Lic are candidates for future studies of parasite virulence determinants and host protective immunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Sruti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: DebRoy
authors.forename: Alexandra B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Keenan
authors.forename: Norikiyo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.forename: Selma M B
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Jeronimo
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Donelson
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D006224:Cricetinae; D018503:Genome, Protozoan; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology; D015151:Immunoblotting; D018314:Leishmania infantum / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000469:parasitology*; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D007106:Immune Sera; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins