Expression of Hexokinase in the Proteome Profile of and Crithidia.

Objective: 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 in Iran, this study aims to investigate the expression of HK in the proteome of and using a proteomic approach.

Methods: A total of 205 samples were removed from the lesions of patients in Fars province, Iran, for the characterization of and 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 and using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF/TOF MS).

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

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