Proteome profiling of cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions due to dermotropic Leishmania donovani in Sri Lanka.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), is a skin infection caused by a type of single-celled parasite. These parasites are usually transmitted through the bite of infected sandflies. In Sri Lanka, CL is caused by a parasite type that usually causes a more severe disease form, known as visceral leishmaniasis. Interaction between the parasite and the human host is important in determining the disease outcome and hence, we conducted a study to look at the proteins in the skin lesions of people with CL using a technique called mass spectrometry. We found 67 proteins that were different between CL lesions and healthy skin. These proteins are involved in various processes in the body, and one specific process called the integrated endoplasmic reticulum stress response (IERSR) was more active in CL patients. We confirmed this by studying specific proteins related to stress in the lesion tissue. In conclusion, our study uncovered several potential immune and disease-related mechanisms in CL patients in Sri Lanka. However, more detailed investigations are needed to fully understand these processes.