Leishmania infantum is responsible for visceral leishmaniasis, a disease that affects millions of people globally. Major surface protease gp63 is one of the key surface antigens of the parasite and has been extensively studied for its potential as a vaccine target. In addition, several other surface antigens of the parasite, including Viscerotropic leishmaniasis antigen, Surface antigen protein, Immunodominant antigen-Tc40, K26 antigen, Stage-specific S antigen-like protein, Heat-shock protein-Immunodominant antigen, Constitutive major surface protease, and Li-K39 immunodominant repetitive domain protein, have also shown potential as targets for vaccine development.

Understanding the immune response to these antigens and their potential as vaccine targets is crucial for the development of an effective vaccine against this disease. Researchers are working to develop new vaccine formulations that can stimulate a robust immune response and provide protection against Leishmania infantum infection. If successful, a vaccine could significantly reduce the burden of this disease and improve the health and well-being of millions of people around the world.

The use of recombinant proteins/cDNA in academic research and therapeutic applications has skyrocketed. However, in heterologous expression systems, successful recombinant protein expression is dependent on a variety of factors, including codon preference, RNA secondary structure, and GC content. When compared to pre-optimization, more and more experimental results demonstrated that the expression level was dramatically increased, ranging from two to hundred times depending on the gene. Bioclone has created a proprietary technology platform that has resulted in the creation of over 6,000 artificially synthesized codon-optimized cDNA clones (cloned in E. coli expression Vector), which are ready for production of the recombinant proteins.

The cDNA (complementary DNA) of Leishmania infantum can be used to produce recombinant antigens that have several applications, including:

Diagnosis of leishmaniasis: Recombinant antigens derived from Leishmania infantum cDNA can be used as diagnostic markers for the detection of leishmaniasis in clinical samples. These antigens can be used in diagnostic tests, such as ELISA, to detect antibodies produced by the host against the parasite.

Vaccine development: Recombinant antigens from Leishmania infantum cDNA can also be used to develop vaccines against leishmaniasis. These antigens can be used to stimulate the immune system to produce a protective response against the parasite, thereby preventing or reducing the severity of the disease.

Understanding parasite biology: Recombinant antigens from Leishmania infantum cDNA can be used to study the biology of the parasite. For example, these antigens can be used to understand the molecular mechanisms behind parasite invasion and host immune evasion, which may provide insights into the development of new methods for controlling leishmaniasis.