Immunodiagnosis of human and canine visceral leishmaniasis using recombinant Leishmania infantum Prohibitin protein and a synthetic peptide containing its conformational B-cell epitope

Exploring Bioinformatics Solutions for Improved Leishmaniasis Diagnostic Tools: A Review

Significant populations in tropical and sub-tropical locations all over the world are severely impacted by a group of neglected tropical diseases called leishmaniases. This disease is caused by roughly 20 species of the protozoan parasite from the Leishmania genus. Disease prevention strategies that include early detection, vector control, treatment of affected individuals, and vaccination are all essential. The diagnosis is critical for selecting methods of therapy, preventing transmission of the disease, and minimizing symptoms so that the affected individual can have a better quality of life. Nevertheless, the diagnostic methods do eventually have limitations, and there is no established gold standard. Some disadvantages include the existence of cross-reactions with other species, and limited sensitivity and specificity, which are mostly determined by the type of antigen used to perform the tests. A viable alternative for a more precise diagnosis is the application of recombinant antigens, which have been generated using bioinformatics approaches and have shown increased diagnostic accuracy. This approach proves valuable as it spans from epitope selection to predicting the interactions within the antibody-antigen complex through docking analysis. As a result, identifying potential new antigens using bioinformatics resources becomes an effective technique since it may result in an earlier and more accurate diagnosis. Consequently, the primary aim of this review is to conduct a comprehensive overview of the most significant in silico tools developed over time, with a focus on evaluating their efficacy and exploring their potential applications in optimizing the selection of highly specific molecules for a more effective diagnosis of leishmaniasis.

High-resolution mapping of linear epitopes from LiNTPDase2: Advancing leishmaniasis detection using optimized protein and peptide antigens

Visceral Leishmaniasis, caused by Leishmania infantum, is a tropical neglected disease and the most dangerous form of Leishmaniasis. It occurs zoonotically, with domestic transmission posing risks to humans as dogs have high susceptibility and are natural reservoirs of the parasite. Given their epidemiological role, improvements are needed in diagnosing Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis (CVL). Thus, we mapped linear epitopes from the rLiNTPDase2 antigen through peptide microarray and identified six positive epitopes. Validation through peptide ELISA revealed three promising peptides with accuracies of 78.6%, 85.92%, and 79.59%. Their combination yielded 97.58% accuracy. Negative epitopes were also found, which interacted with CVL-negative and Chagas Disease positive samples. Their removal from the rLiNTPDase2 sequence resulted in the rNT2.neg, which obtained enhanced specificity over rLiNTPDase2. The rNT2.neg validation achieved 87.50% sensitivity, 90.55% specificity, and 93.5% accuracy within 127 CVL-positive and 96 CVL-negative samples. Therefore, three peptides and rNT2.neg show significant promise for CVL diagnosis.

The immune response in canine and human leishmaniasis and how this influences the diagnosis- a review and assessment of recent research

Leishmaniasis is a widespread but still underdiagnosed parasitic disease that affects both humans and animals. There are at least 20 pathogenic species of Leishmania, most of them being zoonotic. The diagnosis of leishmaniasis remains a major challenge, with an important role being played by the species of parasites involved, the genetic background, the immunocompetence of the host. This paper brings to the fore the sensitivity of the balance in canine and human leishmaniasis and addresses the importance of the host's immune response in establishing a correct diagnosis, especially in certain cases of asymptomatic leishmaniasis, or in the situation the host is immunosuppressed or acquired leishmaniasis through vertical transmission. The methods considered as a reference in the diagnosis of leishmaniasis no longer present certainty, the diagnosis being influenced mostly by the immune response of the host, which differs according to the presence of other associated diseases or even according to the breed in dogs. Consequently, the diagnosis and surveillance of leishmaniasis cases remains an open topic, requiring new diagnostic methods adapted to the immunological state of the host.

Immunoproteomics approach for the discovery of antigens applied to the diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis

In the present study, an immunoproteomic approach using Leishmania infantum parasites isolated from naturally infected dogs from an endemic region of the disease, was carried out to identify new antigens to be used in the diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL). Protein extracts, obtained from parasites isolated from asymptomatic (CanLA) and symptomatic (CanLS) dogs, were used to perform the two-dimensional gels. Western Blotting assays were carried out by employing a pool of sera from dogs with visceral leishmaniasis (CanLA or CanLS), healthy dogs from an endemic area, or dogs with similar diseases associated with cross-reactions (babesiosis and ehrlichiosis). With these results, it was possible to exclude the spots that showed a cross-reactivity of the sera from groups of healthy dogs, and those with babesiosis or ehrlichiosis. Taken together, 20 proteins were identified, 15 of which have already been described in the literature and 5 of which are hypothetical. An immunogenomic screen strategy was applied to identify conserved linear B-cell epitopes in the identified hypothetical proteins. Two peptides were synthesized and tested in ELISA experiments as a proof of concept for the validation of our immunoproteomics findings. The results demonstrated that the antigens presented sensitivity and specificity values ranging from 81.93% to 97.59% and 78.14 to 85.12%, respectively. As a comparative antigen, a preparation of a Leishmania extract showed sensitivity and specificity values of 75.90% and 74.88%, respectively. The present study was able to identify proteins capable of being used for the serodiagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis.

Mapping linear B-cell epitopes of the Tryparedoxin Peroxidase and its implications in the serological diagnosis of tegumentary leishmaniasis

Diagnosis of tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) is essential to avoid permanent damage and severe functional sequelae and there is an urgent need to discover new antigens. The present study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the potential use of the Tryparedoxin Peroxidase (TryP) as an antigen for serological tests. The proposal integrates data from immunoproteomics with immunoinformatics, in addition to a precise analysis of protein levels in the evolutionary stages of the parasite by flow cytometry. To evaluate the performance in the diagnosis of TL, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) assays were performed using the recombinant protein and the respective B-cell epitope, followed by an analysis of the contribution of this peptide in the recognition of the protein by patients, evaluated by serum depletion assays. We showed that the TryP has a linear B-cell epitope with high divergence compared to orthologs from Trypanosoma cruzi and Homo sapiens. The results also show high expression and positive cells for TryP (TryP⁺) in the infective metacyclic promastigotes (MET) and intracellular (24 and 48 hours) stages. From the depletion assays, it was possible to confirm the contribution of the peptide in the specific recognition of the TryP protein by patients with TL (13.7-15.9%). ELISA using the peptide showed high performance in the diagnosis compared to the recombinant TryP (rTryP), Soluble Leishmania braziliensis Antigen (sLba) and Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA) with accuracy of 94.29, 89.29, 65.00 and 37.14%, respectively). We can conclude that the MNEPAPP peptide is a potential antigen for the diagnosis of TL.

Evaluation from a B-cell epitope-based chimeric protein for the serodiagnosis of tegumentary and visceral leishmaniasis

The diagnosis of leishmaniasis presents problems due to the variable sensitivity and/or specificity of tests. In addition, high levels of anti-parasite antibodies can remain after treatment, making it difficult to conduct a prognostic follow-up of patients. In this context, it is necessary to identify new candidates to be examined for the sensitive and specific diagnosis of the disease. In the present study, four Leishmania proteins, previously shown as antigenic for tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL), were evaluated, and their linear specific B-cell epitopes were predicted and used to generate a new gene codifying chimeric protein called ChimB, which was cloned, and the recombinant version was expressed, purified, and evaluated in ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) to diagnose TL and visceral leishmaniasis (VL). A total of 220 human serum samples were used, and, when ChimB was used, results showed sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of 100% for the diagnosis of both diseases; however, when using peptides, the sensitivity values reached from 28.0% to 57.3% and specificity varied from 16.3% to 83.7%. A soluble Leishmania extract (SLA) showed sensitivity and specificity values of 30.7% and 45.9%, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) value for ChimB was 1.0, while for synthetic peptides, this value reached between 0.502 and 0.635, whereas for SLA, the value was of 0.589. Serological assays using sera samples collected before and after treatment showed significant reductions in the anti-ChimB antibody levels after therapy, suggesting a prognostic role of this recombinant antigen. In conclusion, preliminary data suggest the use from ChimB as a potential candidate for the diagnosis and prognosis of leishmaniasis.

Antigens and their diagnostic performance for Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis: A critical review

Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is the most aggressive and lethal form of leishmaniasis manifesting in dogs and represents a major public health concern. Although there are sufficiently sensitive molecular tools for CVL diagnosis, they are not accessible at the main points of disease dissemination, in which context serodiagnosis has been used as an alternative tool on the epidemiological control. As an attempt to develop more accurate immunodiagnostic assays, many antigens have been tested over the years, on different platforms. This review aimed to access studies reporting new antigens that can be applied for CVL serodiagnosis. Articles published from January of 2016 to March of 2021 were retrieved from Google Scholar, Science Direct, and PubMed, using "Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis" and "Serodiagnosis" as keywords. In total, 1527 articles were identified, of which 42 were selected based on exclusion factors. Sensitivity, specificity, sample size, and sample quality data were extracted by manual curation and analyzed. Of the selected articles, 26 contemplated ELISA, which enabled a more thorough comparison and a critical review of these studies. Soluble Leishmania Antigens (SLA) and the A2 protein were used as controls in 53.8 and 46.15 % of these articles, respectively, and were evaluated separately; their frequent use was questioned. Subsequently, articles that evaluated other assay platforms, such as immunochromatography, immunosensors, and others, were also reported and evaluated. Finally, data relative to validation studies of commercial kits were briefly discussed. Our results show that there are several antigens with great potential for the development of accurate diagnostic tools, but further testing is required. The critical analysis also brings insights that can be useful for more assertive diagnostic development of more robust tools for CVL serodiagnosis.

Potential of recombinant LiHyQ, a novel Leishmania infantum protein, for the diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis and as a diagnostic and prognostic marker for human leishmaniasis and human immunodeficiency virus co-infection: A preliminary study

Laboratory diagnosis of leishmaniasis shows variable efficacy in detecting infected mammalian hosts and there is a need to identify suitable antigens to improve the accuracy of diagnostic tests. In the present study, a L. infantum hypothetical protein called LiHyQ was evaluated for the diagnosis of tegumentary (TL) and visceral (VL) leishmaniasis using canine and human samples. A collection of dog sera (n=155) were tested and contained samples from asymptomatic (n=20) and symptomatic (n=25) VL animals, from healthy dogs living in endemic (n=25) or non-endemic (n=25) areas of disease, from Leish-Tec® vaccinated dogs (n=20) or from dogs infected with Ehrlichia canis (n=15), Babesia canis (n=10) and Trypanosoma cruzi (n=15). Sensitivity (Se), Specificity (Sp), Positive Predictive Value (PPV) and Negative Predictive Value (NPV) of 100% were observed for rLiHyQ with these samples, whereas the Se, Sp, PPV and NPV values with L. infantum Soluble Leishmania Antigen (SLA) preparation were 60.0%, 99.0%, 96.0% and 86.0%, respectively. A collection of human sera (n=305) were tested and contained samples from TL (n=50) and VL (n=40) patients, from VL/HIV co-infected patients (n=35), from patients infected with HIV alone (n=30), Chagas Disease (n=30), malaria (n=10), tuberculosis (n=10), paracoccidioidomycosis (n=15), leprosy (n=30) or aspergillosis (n=15); and from healthy subjects (n=40). Se, Sp, PPV and NPV values of 100% were observed for rLiHyQ with these samples, whereas the Se, Sp, PPV and NPV values with SLA were 58.0%, 76.0%, 50.0% and 82.0%, respectively. The antibody reactivity against the protein was compared with commercial kits, and the kappa index varied from 0.95 to 1.00 for rLiHyQ, and of 0.55 to 0.82 for the kits. In addition, the serological follow-up of treated patients showed a significant reduction in rLiHyQ-specific IgG antibody levels. All canine and human samples were tested at the same time using the same reagents, in order to reduce experimental variation and interference in data interpretation. In conclusion, our preliminary data suggest a diagnostic and prognostic role for rLiHyQ against leishmaniasis.

Diagnostic application of sensitive and specific phage-exposed epitopes for visceral leishmaniasis and human immunodeficiency virus coinfection

The diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has improved with the search of novel antigens; however, their performance is limited when samples from VL/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-coinfected patients are tested. In this context, studies conducted to identify more suitable antigens to detect both VL and VL/HIC coinfection cases should be performed. In the current study, phage display was performed using serum samples from healthy subjects and VL, HIV-infected and VL/HIV-coinfected patients; aiming to identify novel phage-exposed epitopes to be evaluated with this diagnostic purpose. Nine non-repetitive and valid sequences were identified, synthetized and tested as peptides in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay experiments. Results showed that three (Pep2, Pep3 and Pep4) peptides showed excellent performance to diagnose VL and VL/HIV coinfection, with 100% sensitivity and specificity values. The other peptides showed sensitivity varying from 50.9 to 80.0%, as well as specificity ranging from 60.0 to 95.6%. Pep2, Pep3 and Pep4 also showed a potential prognostic effect, since specific serological reactivity was significantly decreased after patient treatment. Bioinformatics assays indicated that Leishmania trypanothione reductase protein was predicted to contain these three conformational epitopes. In conclusion, data suggest that Pep2, Pep3 and Pep4 could be tested for the diagnosis of VL and VL/HIV coinfection.

Early detection and persistent positivity of anti-Leishmania antibodies using a recombinant protein-based ELISA in naturally infected dogs in Brazil

Background

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonotic disease caused by Leishmania infantum, for which dogs constitute the main urban parasite reservoir. Control measures and the treatment of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) are essential to reduce VL cases. Early and accurate detection of L. infantum-infected dogs is crucial to the success of VL control. To improve the serological detection of L. infantum-exposed dogs, we evaluated the early diagnosis capacity of a recombinant protein (rLci5) in an immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect naturally infected dogs. Additionally, we evaluated the persistence of the positive results obtained by rLci5 ELISA in comparison to other conventional diagnostic test methods.

Methods

Serum samples obtained from 48 L. infantum-infected dogs involved in a cohort study were evaluated using different diagnostic methods (qPCR, EIE-LVC, DPP-LVC and splenic culture). The results were compared to rLci5 ELISA to determine its capacity to diagnose L. infantum infection at earlier infection time points. The persistence of positive diagnostic test results was also compared for each dog evaluated.

Results

rLci5 ELISA presented higher rates of positive results at early time points compared to the other diagnostic tests employed in the cohort study, as early as 24 months prior to detection by other tests. rLci5 ELISA positivity was 52.1% (25/48) at baseline, while qPCR was 35.4% (17/48), DPP-LVC 27.1% (13/48), EIE-LVC 22.9% (11/48) and culture only 4.2% (2/48). In at least one of the time points of the 24-month cohort study, rLci5 ELISA was positive in 100% (48/48) of the dogs, versus 83% (40/48) for qPCR, 75% (36/48) for DPP-LVC, 65% (31/48) for EIE-LVC and 31% (15/48) for culture. Investigating clinical signs in association with diagnostic test positivity, rLci5 ELISA successfully detected CVL in 62.9% (95/151) of the clinical evaluations with a score of 0–3, 64.3% (45/70) with scores between 4 and 7, and 73.7% (14/19) with scores > 7, providing higher rates of positivity than all other methods evaluated. Moreover, rLci5 ELISA presented the greatest persistence with respect to test positivity: 45.8% of the dogs evaluated.

Conclusion

Four diagnostic tests were compared to rLci5 ELISA, which presented earlier infection diagnosis and a greater persistence of positive test results. Accordingly, the use of the rLci5 ELISA can improve CVL diagnostic performance by detecting infected dogs sooner than other testing methods, with enhanced persistence of positive results over the course of the infection.

Graphic abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-04895-z.

Potential antigenic targets used in immunological tests for diagnosis of tegumentary leishmaniasis: A systematic review

Immunological tests may represent valuable tools for the diagnosis of human tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) due to their simple execution, less invasive nature and potential use as a point-of-care test. Indeed, several antigenic targets have been used with the aim of improving the restricted scenario for TL-diagnosis. We performed a worldwide systematic review to identify antigenic targets that have been evaluated for the main clinical forms of TL, such as cutaneous (CL) and mucosal (ML) leishmaniasis. Included were original studies evaluating the sensitivity and specificity of immunological tests for human-TL, CL and/or ML diagnosis using purified or recombinant proteins, synthetic peptides or polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies to detect Leishmania-specific antibodies or antigens. The review methodology followed PRISMA guidelines and all selected studies were evaluated in accordance with QUADAS-2. Thirty-eight original studies from four databases fulfilled the selection criteria. A total of 79 antigens were evaluated for the detection of antibodies as a diagnostic for TL, CL and/or ML by ELISA. Furthermore, three antibodies were evaluated for the detection of antigen by immunochromatographic test (ICT) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for CL-diagnosis. Several antigenic targets showed 100% of sensitivity and specificity, suggesting potential use for TL-diagnosis in its different clinical manifestations. However, a high number of proof-of-concept studies reinforce the need for further analysis aimed at verifying true diagnostic accuracy in clinical practice.

Biotechnological applications from a Leishmania amastigote-specific hypothetical protein in the canine and human visceral leishmaniasis

The treatment against visceral leishmaniasis (VL) presents problems, mainly related to the toxicity and/or high cost of the drugs. In this context, a rapid and precise diagnosis of the disease should be performed, mainly to treat patients as soon as possible, aiming to reduce the treatment time and the toxicity of the therapeutics. In the present study, the diagnostic role of an amastigote-specific Leishmania protein was evaluated in the canine and human VL. Results showed that the recombinant protein (called rLiHyJ) and one specific B cell epitope (called PeptJ) predicted from protein sequence presented high sensitivity and specificity values to diagnose canine and human disease, showing also a low reactivity against cross-reactive samples. The rA2 protein and a parasite antigenic extract showed variable sensitivity and/or specificity values in the ELISA experiments. A prognostic evaluation of protein and peptide in the human VL indicated that specific IgG antibodies significantly decreased after treatment, when compared to be values obtained before therapy. The in vitro immunogenicity using rLiHyJ in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures collected of such patients and healthy subjects suggested that the protein induced lymphoproliferation and high IFN-γ production in the stimulated cells. In conclusion, although preliminary, results suggest that rLiHyJ and PeptJ could present distinct biotechnological applications in the canine and human VL.

A Leishmania infantum hypothetical protein evaluated as a recombinant protein and specific B-cell epitope for the serodiagnosis and prognosis of visceral leishmaniasis

The serodiagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) presents problems related to the sensitivity and/or specificity of the tests. In this context, more refined antigens should be identified and applied for the improvement of disease diagnosis. In the present study, DNA with an encoding of a Leishmania infantum hypothetical protein, LiHyC, was cloned, and the recombinant protein was expressed, purified, and evaluated for the serodiagnosis of canine and human VL. In addition, a specific B-cell epitope present in the LiHyC sequence was predicted; the peptide was both synthetized and evaluated in the ELISA experiments. For comparison, commercial diagnostic kits were used against positive (VL hosts) and negative (healthy hosts) samples. Results showed that the recombinant protein (rLiHyC) and synthetic peptide (PeptC) were highly sensitive and specific to diagnose canine and human VL, with 100% sensitivity and specificity, while no false-positive or false-negative result was detected. When the DPP® CVL kit was used to identify canine samples, 44 and 52 of the 60 L. infantum-infected animals, without or with clinical signals of disease, respectively, were identified, while eight and four samples were considered as false-negatives, respectively. For human VL, an IT LEISH® kit was used, and 33 of the 40 VL patients were identified, while seven samples were considered to be false-negatives. Post-therapeutic serological follow-up testing sera samples from treated and untreated VL patients showed a significant drop in the anti-PeptC and anti-rLiHyC antibody levels, thus suggesting the feasibility to use the recombinant protein and/or synthetic peptide in future studies as diagnostic and/or prognostic markers for VL.