Expression of Hexokinase in the Proteome Profile of Leishmania major and Crithidia

The relationship between drug resistance and the expression of hexokinase (HK) has been indicated in leishmaniasis. According to the prolonged treatment period in cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) patients co-infected with Crithidia in Iran, this study aims to investigate the expression of HK in the proteome of Leishmania major and Crithidia using a proteomic approach.

A total of 205 samples were removed from the lesions of patients in Fars province, Iran, for the characterization of L. major and Crithidia using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). After protein extraction, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis was employed for protein separation. Several spots were isolated for HK determination in the proteomes of L. major and Crithidia using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF/TOF MS).

The PCR results showed 5 positive cases for Crithidia and 96 positive cases for L. major. MALDI TOF/TOF MS indicated HK as a common protein in the proteome of L. major and Crithidia. HK was up-regulated in the Crithidia proteome in comparison with the L. major proteome.

Since a relationship between HK expression and drug resistance has been indicated in leishmaniasis, the overexpression of HK in Crithidia might be related to the increased duration of the treatment period in CL patients co-infected with Crithidia.