Leptospires can adapt to different environmental as well as host stresses including change in temperature, pH, reactive oxidation species etc. The study was conducted to determine the change in mRNA expression of gene encoding heat shock protein 15 (Hsp15) of Leptospira interrogans under thermal and oxidative stress using qPCR which revealed that hsp15 gene was not significantly upregulated or downregulated under specified stress. In addition, the hsp15 gene was cloned and sequenced. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on effect of oxidative stress which is very important during infection, on expression of hsp15 gene of L. interrogans

Leptospirosis, Hsp15, qPCR, expression

The hsp15 gene of L. interrogans was successfully cloned and sequenced which might shed light on its evolutionary significance. The deduced protein model was characterized and validated to be a stable prediction. Further, qPCR-based studies on hsp15 gene expression in response to temperature and oxidative stress suggested its role in adaptability of this pathogen under these stress conditions

Upasna and Satparkash Singh (2025). Expression of hsp15 gene of Leptospira interrogans under Stress Conditions. Biological Forum, 17(6): 145-148