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Objective(s) Leishmania can lead to a broad spectrum of diseases, collectively known as leishmaniasis. The A2 gene/ protein family could be one of the most eligible candidate factors of virulence in visceral leishmaniasis (VL). The previous results confirmed that in Leishmania infantum, several A2 proteins are abundantly expressed by the amastigote, but not the promastigote stage. As there are no data available on the pattern of A2 gene / protein in Iranian Leishmania isolates of either cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) or VL; the current study aimed to investigate molecular analysis of A2 gene in leishmania species among field isolates of Iran. Materials and Methods An A2 gene was identified by sequencing of crude PCR products resulting from 20 samples of CL and 10 samples of VL isolates from Iranian patients. Results The results indicated the A2 gene in CL is only a single copy of 153 bp encoding a protein of 51 amino acids, as opposed to A2 of VL species with multi-copy genes of varying length. A2 sequences in Iranian L. major strains represented a homology with stage-specific S antigen-like protein (A2) of L. major and L. infantum. Moreover, A2 sequences in Iranian L. tropica strains have homology with A2 protein of L. major and L. tropica. Conclusion It is concluded that A2 is an antigen candidate for vaccine development and diagnosis purposes and that A2 sequences are conserved among field isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Leishmania species which belongs to Kinetoplastide family must defend self against free radicals to survive in host macrophages. IronSuperoxide dismutase (Fe-SOD) is an antioxidant enzyme in Leishmania spp, which prevent cellular oxidative damages. Methods: In this comparative study, we assessed expression of mitochondrial Iron superoxide dismutase (SOD A) and glycosomal (SOD B) in 26 meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime®) sensitive and resistant isolated Leishmania tropica. The used method was real-time PCR. Sensitive and resistant L. tropica parasite were isolated from anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) patients. Results: Real time RT-PCR revealed a significant up and down regulation of SOD A (2.87 Folds) (P<0.05), and SOD B (-3.48 folds) (P<0.05) in sensitive isolate compared to resistant one, respectively. Conclusion: Our primary results suggested that Leishmania parasites can potentially contribute in growth and survive within host macrophages in interface with the antimony drugs, by using different levels of superoxide dismutase expression as defense mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]