Tehran University of Medical Sciences Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases 2322-1984 10 1 2016 02 06 290 290 EN Nasibeh Hosseini-Vasoukolaei Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University ofMedical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Ahmad Reza Mahmoudi Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran. Ali Khamesipour Center for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences,Tehran, Iran. Mohammad Reza Yaghoobi-Ershadi Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University ofMedical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Shaden Kamhawi Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Rockville, USA. Jesus Valenzuela Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Rockville, USA. Mohammad Hossein Arandian Esfahan Health Research Station, National Institute of Health Research, Tehran University of Medical SciencesEsfahan, Iran. Hossein Mirhendi Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of MedicalSciences, Tehran, Iran. Shaghayegh Emami Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran. Zahra Saeidi Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Farah Idali Reproductive Immunology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran. Reza Jafari Esfahan Health Research Station, National Institute of Health Research, Tehran University of Medical SciencesEsfahan, Iran. Mahmood Jeddi-Tehrani Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran. Amir Ahmad Akhavan Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University ofMedical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2015 10 17 2015 10 17 Background: Sand fly saliva helps parasite establishment and induce immune responses in vertebrate hosts. In the current study, we investigated the modulation of Phlebotomus papatasi salivary gland antigen expression by sea­sonal and biological factors. Methods: Sand flies were grouped according to physiological stages such as unfed, fed, semi-gravid, gravid, parous, nulliparous, infected or non-infected with Leishmania major and based on the season in which they were collected. Salivary gland antigens (SGAs) were analyzed using SDS-PAGE and the antibody response against SGAs in Rhombomys opimus was determined by ELISA and Western blot. Results: The highest protein content was found in the salivary glands of unfed sand flies. The saliva content was higher in parous compared to nulliparous, in summer compared to spring, and in Leishmania-infected compared to non-infected flies. The salivary gland lysate (SGL) electrophoretic pattern variations were observed among sand flies with various physiological stages particularly from 4–9 protein bands of 14–70 kDa. The SGL of unfed and gravid flies had extra protein bands compared to fed and semi-gravid sand flies. There was missing protein bands in SGL of parous compared to nulliparous; and in summer compared to spring collected flies. Rhombomys opimus se­rum reacted strongly with an antigenic band of around 28 kDa in the SGL of all sand fly groups. Conclusion: Certain biological and environmental characteristics of wild populations of vector sand flies affect the protein content and antigenicity of saliva. This might have an important implication in the design of vector-based vaccines. https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/view/290 https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/download/290/265