title: Differential expression profiles of the salivary proteins SP15 and SP44 from Phlebotomus papatasi.
abstract: Sand fly saliva has been shown to help parasite establishment and to induce immune responses in vertebrate hosts. In the current study, we investigated the pattern of expression of two Phlebotomus papatasi salivary transcripts in specific physiological and seasonal conditions at a hyperendemic area of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) in Iran.
  
  
  
  Sand flies were collected during 2012-2013, and grouped according to physiological stages such as unfed, fed, semi-gravid, gravid, parous, nulliparous, infected or non-infected with Leishmania major and also based on the season in which they were collected. Quantitative Real-Time PCR was applied for assessment of the expression of two relevant salivary transcripts, PpSP15 and PpSP44, associated to protection from and exacerbation of ZCL, respectively.
  
  
  
  The expression of PpSP15 and PpSP44 transcripts was significantly up-regulated (1.74 and 1.4 folds, respectively) in blood fed compared to unfed flies. Among four groups of fed, unfed, semi-gravid and gravid flies, the lowest levels of PpSP15 and PpSP44 expression were observed in gravid flies. Additionally, the expression levels of both PpSP15 and PpSP44 transcripts in P. papatasi collected during summer were significantly up-regulated (3.7 and 4.4 folds, respectively) compared to spring collections. In addition, the PpSP15 transcript exhibited a significant up-regulation (P < 0.05) in non-infected flies compared to those infected with L. major.
  
  
  
  This study contributes to our knowledge of the differential expression of salivary genes among different groups within a P. papatasi population under natural field conditions. Cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis are of public health importance in many parts of Iran and neighbouring countries where P. papatasi is the proven and dominant sand fly vector for ZCL, the most prevalent and endemic form of the disease in Iran. Therefore, the current study could be helpful in understanding the influence of salivary genes on Leishmania transmission by phlebotomine sand flies. Our findings demonstrate the differential expression of salivary transcripts under various physiological conditions potentially influencing the sand fly capacity for parasite transmission as well as the outcome of disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.|Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, Health Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
authors.forename: Nasibeh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hosseini-Vasoukolaei
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Immunology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Farah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Idali
authors.affiliation: Center for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khamesipour
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Yaghoobi-Ershadi
authors.affiliation: Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA.
authors.forename: Shaden
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamhawi
authors.affiliation: Vector Molecular Biology Section, Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Rockville, MD, 20852, USA.
authors.forename: Jesus G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Valenzuela
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Haleh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Edalatkhah
authors.affiliation: Esfahan Health Research Station, National Institute of Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Esfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Arandian
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mirhendi
authors.affiliation: Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shaghayegh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Emami
authors.affiliation: Esfahan Health Research Station, National Institute of Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Esfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jafari
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Saeidi
authors.affiliation: Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran. mahjed@avicenna.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Mahmood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeddi-Tehrani
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. aaakhavan@tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Amir Ahmad
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Akhavan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007492:Iran; D018320:Leishmania major / Q000502:physiology; D010691:Phlebotomus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000469:parasitology; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D012313:RNA
keywords: Iran; Phlebotomus papatasi; PpSP15; PpSP44; Salivary gene expression