Comparative in-silico genome analysis of Leishmania (Leishmania) donovani: A step towards its species specificity

• Comparative genome analysis identifies 55 species specific L. (L.) donovani genes.
• Discrepancies of surface proteins such as amastins, proteases, and peptidases are identified in L. (L.) donovani.
• Apical Membrane Antigen (AMA1) might be a novel factor which helps L. (L.) donovani invasion.
• Novel A2 and amastin genes in L. (L.) donovani genome are identified.
• Our study identifies differential gene distribution in L. (L.) donovani with respect to other leishmanial species.

Comparative genome analysis of recently sequenced Leishmania (L.) donovani was unexplored so far. The present study deals with the complete scanning of L. (L.) donovani genome revealing its interspecies variations. 60 distinctly present genes in L. (L.) donovani were identified when the whole genome was compared with Leishmania (L.) infantum. Similarly 72, 159, and 265 species specific genes were identified in L. (L.) donovani when compared to Leishmania (L.) major, Leishmania (L.) mexicana and Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis respectively. The cross comparison of L. (L.) donovani in parallel with the other sequenced species of leishmanial led to the identification of 55 genes which are highly specific and expressed exclusively in L. (L.) donovani. We found mainly the discrepancies of surface proteins such as amastins, proteases, and peptidases. Also 415 repeat containing proteins in L. (L.) donovani and their differential distribution in other leishmanial species were identified which might have a potential role during pathogenesis. The genes identified can be evaluated as drug targets for anti-leishmanial treatment, exploring the scope for extensive future investigations.