title: Sequencing and Gene Expression Analysis of Leishmania tropica LACK Gene.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leishmania Homologue of receptors for Activated C Kinase (LACK) antigen is a 36-kDa protein, which provokes a very early immune response against Leishmania infection. There are several reports on the expression of LACK through different life-cycle stages of genus Leishmania, but only a few of them have focused on L.tropica.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study provides details of the cloning, DNA sequencing and gene expression of LACK in this parasite species. First, several local isolates of Leishmania parasites were typed in our laboratory using PCR technique to verify of Leishmania parasite species. After that, LACK gene was amplified and cloned into a vector for sequencing. Finally, the expression of this molecule in logarithmic and stationary growth phase promastigotes, as well as in amastigotes, was evaluated by Reverse Transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The typing result confirmed that all our local isolates belong to L.tropica. LACK gene sequence was determined and high similarity was observed with the sequences of other Leishmania species. Furthermore, the expression of LACK gene in both promastigotes and amastigotes forms was confirmed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, the data set the stage for future studies of the properties and immune role of LACK gene products.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria.
authors.forename: Nour
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hammoudeh
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kweider
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria(AECS), Damascus, Syria.
authors.forename: Abdul-Qader
authors.initials: AQ
authors.lastname: Abbady
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria.
authors.forename: Chadi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Soukkarieh
keywords: Amastigotes; Cutaneous leishmaniasis; LACK gene; Leishmania tropica; Promastigotes