Key proteins of the plasma membrane of Leishmania spp.

Abstract

The initial interaction between host cells and Leishmania infective rforms is dependent on surface proteins from both organisms. Membrane proteins are fundamental molecules that perform a variety of functions, including recognition, adhesion, and host cell penetration, as well as nutrient and enzyme transport and cell signaling. Several Leishmania plasma membrane proteins play critical roles in host interaction, parasite survival, and virulence during the early stages of infection. Among them, the most prominent is GP63, which confers resistance to complement-mediated lysis and induces macrophage phagocytosis. Another important surface protein, prohibitin, has a role in macrophage infection and has demonstrated the ability to generate a humoral response in human patients, making it a potential diagnostic marker. Furthermore, prohibitin is considered a promising target for vaccination against L. infantum. The kinetoplastid membrane protein 11 (KMP11) has also been identified as a potential B- and T-cell immunogen during infection. The analysis of the membrane proteome profile of Leishmania promastigotes could offer a more comprehensive understanding of host-parasite interactions and Leishmania biology. Despite membrane proteins constituting 20-30 % of the proteome in most organisms, there are relatively few proteomic studies on Leishmania parasites that focus on membrane-associated proteins, even though these proteins are potential drug targets. This review provides a survey of the current knowledge regarding the composition of plasma membrane focusing, in alphabetical order, on those proteins that are best characterized in terms of functionality in Leishmania.