Searching genes encoding leishmania antigens for diagnosis and protection

Abstract

Leishmaniases are a wide spectrum of parasitic diseases caused by the infection of different species of the genus Leishmania. Currently, these diseases are one of the most neglected diseases threatening 350 million people in different countries around the world. Thus, these diseases require better screening, diagnostics and treatment. An effective vaccine, that is not currently available, would be the best way to confront leishmaniases. In the past 20 years the molecular characterization of Leishmania genes encoding parasite antigens has been carried out. In this review we summarize the most common strategies employed for the isolation and characterization of genes encoding Leishmania antigens. To provide a collective view, we also discuss the results related with diagnosis and protection based on different recombinant DNA-derived Leishmania products. © 2009 Manuel Soto et al.