Evaluation of differential gene expression in Leishmania major Friedlin procyclics and metacyclics using DNA microarray analysis

The various Leishmania species are flagellated protozoans, responsible for a wide spectrum of human diseases. The sequence of the L. major genome is nearing completion and a large proportion of the identified genes have yet to be ascribed functions. DNA microarrays containing PCR-amplified DNA from a random amplified genomic library of L. major Friedlin (LmjF) [Mol. Biochem. Parasitol. 113 (2001) 337] were hybridized with fluorescent probes made from L. major Friedlin RNA from five time-points during differentiation from procyclics to metacyclics. The data were normalized for background and probe intensity and the relative abundance of RNA for each spot was calculated. Almost 15% (1387/9282) of the DNAs showed statistically significant ( P