Phylogenetic Analysis, Cloning and Expression of Delta Amastin Encoding Gene from Leishmania major as a Vaccine Candidate

Amastin is a surface glycoprotein in Leishmania species and one of the most important vaccine candidates due to its involvement in pathogenesis and being an essential virulence factor for parasite replication within the mammalian host cells. There are more than 60 copies of Amastin gene per genome of the parasite.

Following phylogenetic analysis, a selected Amastin sequence was optimized and cloned with signal peptide in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein was evaluated by SDG-PAGE and a specific antibody by Western blotting.

Among the Amastin sequences within different chromosomes of Leishmania major, the main type known as delta Amastin (primary distributed on chromosome 34) could be expressed in E. coli host and was confirmed by SDG-PAGE and Western blotting.

Due to its copy number and evolutionary conservation and its role in pathogenesis, δ-Amastin is considered as an important vaccine candidate against leishmaniasis which could be expressed as a recombinant protein in E. coli.