The expression of HSP83 genes in Leishmania infantum is affected by temperature and by stage-differentiation and is regulated at the levels of mRNA stability and translation.

Background: Exposure of Leishmania promastigotes to the temperature of their mammalian hosts results in the induction of a typical heat shock response. It has been suggested that heat shock proteins play an important role in parasite survival and differentiation.

Results: Here we report the studies on the expression of the heat shock protein 83 (HSP83) genes of Leishmania infantum.

Antigenic properties of the Leishmania infantum GRP94 and mapping of linear B-cell epitopes.

In this study, we show that the glucose-regulated protein 94 (GRP94) from Leishmania infantum is a major target for humoral immune response during both visceral (VL) and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL). Also, the time-course of appearance of anti-GRP94 antibodies along the infection was analysed in hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) experimentally infected with L. infantum.