Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Parasitology 1735-7020 13 2 2018 06 25 186 192 Samira ELIKAEE Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mehdi MOHEBALI Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran AND Center for Endemic Parasites of Iran, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Hamid ESLAMI Dept. of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Sassan REZAEI Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Hamid Reza NAJAFIAN Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Elham KAZEMI-RAD Dept. of Parasitology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran Hossein KESHAVARZ Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Reza ESHRAGHIAN Dept. of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Homa HAJJARAN Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Ali OSHAGHI Dept. of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Sara AYAZIAN MAVI Dept. of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2018 06 25 2018 06 25 Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is one of the world health problems. Leishmania major is the etiological agent of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL). Promastigote and amastigote are two morphological forms of Leishmania parasites that express different proteins and p27 is an important gene encoding cytochrome c oxidase (COX) component. P27 gene expresses a 27 kDa protein that essential in ATP synthesis. This study aimed to compare p27 gene expression in promastigote and amastigote forms in Iranian strain of L. major (MRHO/IR/75/ER). Methods: This study was conducted in 2015. Clinical isolates of CL patients from north, center, west and south parts of Iran were collected and identified by PCR-RFLP. After RNA extraction of promastigotes and amastigotes and cDNA synthesis, the expression level of p27 gene was compared by real-time RT-PCR. Results: By comparison of expression level between amastigote and promastigote forms of Iranian strain of L. major, up-regulation of p27 gene (2.73 fold) was observed in amastigotes. Moreover, there was no significant difference in p27 gene expression between L. major isolates. Conclusion: p27 gene and protein can be considered as a target in recombinant vaccine production and treatment process. https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/view/2201 https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/download/2201/826