Exploring new immunological insight on SP15 (‚à?4‚ÄØkDa) family protein in saliva of Indian sand-fly (Phlebotomus argentipes) in experimental visceral leishmaniasis
Authors: Shyam Narayan
Ajay Kumar
Pradeep Das
Manish K Singh
Pushpanjali
Ghufran Ahmed
Sanjiva Bimal
Ajit K Thakur
Fauzia Jamal
Subhankar K Singh
Snehil
Journal: Cellular Immunology (2018)
Discipline: IMMUNOLOGY
Keywords: Anti-saliva antibodies; Cytokines; Phlebotomus argentipes; SP15 family proteins; Salivary gland homogenate
Affiliations: Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, (Indian Council of Medical Research) Agam Kuan, Patna, 800 007, India., Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, (Indian Council of Medical Research) Agam Kuan, Patna, 800 007, India. Electronic address: .

Abstract:  Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a disease caused by protozoan species of the genus Leishmania and is transmitted through bites from the Phlebotomus sand fly; it is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality in many parts of world, including India. Reports on the protective role played by saliva proteins of Lutozomyia longipalpis, Phlebotomus papatasi and Phlebotomus duboscqi. are available. However, no studies have explored the salivary proteins of P. argentipes, which is the known proven vector for the transmission of VL in the Indian sub-continent. Herein we revealed the presence of two proteins of 14.2 and one protein of 13.6 kDa in Indian strain P. argentipes which is absolute identical to previously reported protein of SP15 family (PagSP01, PagSP02 and PagSP07) of P. argentipes of NIH colony, USA. In an experimental study on P. argentipes from Bihar, India, we demonstrated that a strong humoral and cellular immune response was triggered to reduce the concomitant Leishmania load in groups of immunized mice. The immunized group produced a considerable amount of IgG antibodies, and their splenocytes generated TH1 cytokines (IL-12, IFN-Œ≥) with the support of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactivity in such mice at the challenged site. We summarize from our data that some identical proteins to previous from SP15 family protein of 14.2 and 13.6 kDa molecular size, derived from Indian P. argentipes and reported its first time, can also be significant in resolution of VL infection after modulation of host protective T cell response in VL. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Figure 6B seems to be duplicated across the first two panels, with a different region of the same histological slide visualized, despite authors noting these are different groups of mice.  , 
 Figure 1 from this paper looks remarkably similar to Figure 6 from an older paper by the same research group, but is presented as novel results. The older paper is: Pushpanjali et al, Cytokine 86 (2016) 79u201385, DOI: 10.1016 j.cyto.2016.07.017 Can the authors please clarify if these represent the same experiments?  , 
 Figure 3B from this paper looks remarkably similar to Figure 7 from that same Cytokine 2016 paper by the same research group, but is presented as novel results. Of note, the molecular weights of the markers are a bit different between the two figures. Can the authors please clarify if these represent the same experiments?  ,