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Wu H, Giri BR, Li H, Zheng Y, Yan X, Cheng G. Schistosoma japonicum extracellular vesicle proteins serve as effective biomarkers for diagnosing parasite infection. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1391168. [PMID: 38817446 PMCID: PMC11137203 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1391168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Schistosoma species are the causative agent of schistosomiasis and shows worldwide distribution. There is a great need to develop a sensitive diagnostic approach for controlling the disease. Previously, we identified large numbers of Extracellular Vesicle (EV) proteins from Schistosoma japonicum (S. japonicum), but rarely these proteins have been evaluated for their diagnostic potential. In the present study, we performed bioinformatic analyses of S. japonicum identified EV-associated proteins from the previous study and then identified Schistosoma-specific proteins with potentially secreted capability. Among them, we selected SJCHGC02838 protein, SJCHGC05593 protein, SJCHGC05668 protein and a hypothetical protein (SJHYP) to evaluate their diagnostic potential for detecting S. japonicum infection. First, we determined the expression of these four proteins at the transcript levels using qRT-PCR and revealed that all these genes showed higher expression in adult stage. Then, we cloned the full-length cDNA for each protein into a prokaryotic expression vector and successfully generated the recombinant proteins. Upon the purification of recombinant proteins, we developed an indirect ELISA method to evaluate the diagnostic potential of these purified recombinant proteins. The results showed high sensitivity for detecting Schistosoma infection. Additionally, these proteins also displayed a good potential for detecting Schistosoma infection, especially SJCHGC05668 protein at an early stage. The diagnostic potentials of these recombinant proteins were further evaluated by Western blot and comparatively analyzed by our previously developed cfDNA methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huixin Wu
- Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Bikash R. Giri
- Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Zoology, Kuntala Kumari Sabat (KKS) Women’s College, Balasore, Odisha, India
| | - Huimin Li
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai, China
| | - Yameng Zheng
- Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoli Yan
- Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Guofeng Cheng
- Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Dos Santos M, de Faria MT, da Silva JO, Gandra IB, Ribeiro AJ, Silva KA, Nogueira LM, Machado JM, da Silveira Mariano RM, Gonçalves AAM, Ludolf F, Candia-Puma MA, Chávez-Fumagalli MA, Campos-da-Paz M, Giunchetti RC, Galdino AS. A Mini-Review on Elisa-Based Diagnosis of Schistosomiasis. Curr Mol Med 2024; 24:585-598. [PMID: 37143281 DOI: 10.2174/1566524023666230504140828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical parasitic disease caused by trematode worms of the genus schistosoma, which affects approximately 240 million people worldwide. the diagnosis of the disease can be performed by parasitological, molecular, and/or immunological methods, however, the development of new diagnostic methods still essential to guide policy decisions, monitor disease trends and assess the effectiveness of interventions. OBJECTIVE in this sense, the current work summarizes the findings of a systematic review regarding antigens applied in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test, which were patented and published over the last ten years. METHODS the literature search strategy used medical subject heading (mesh) terms to define as descriptors. "schistosoma mansoni" was used in arrangement with the descriptors "immunoassay", "enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay", "elisa", and "antigens", using the "and" connector. the patent search was done using keywords, including diagnosis and schistosoma or schistosomiasis or schistosome. several databases were employed for the patent search, such as intellectual property national institute; european patent office; the united states patent and trademark office; patent scope, and google patents. RESULTS forty-one articles were retrieved, of which only five met the eligibility criteria. seventeen patents were taken from the databases, and a brief description of the most relevant inventions is given here. CONCLUSION schistosomiasis is considered the most important helminthic disease in worldwide. therefore, it is important to of searching for and develops diagnostic methods based on serology to reduce morbidity and mortality caused by the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelli Dos Santos
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Microrganismos, Universidade Federal de São Joao Del-Rei, Sebastião Gonçalves Coelho, Divinópolis, 400, 35501-296, MG, Brazil
| | - Mariana Teixeira de Faria
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Microrganismos, Universidade Federal de São Joao Del-Rei, Sebastião Gonçalves Coelho, Divinópolis, 400, 35501-296, MG, Brazil
| | - Jonatas Oliveira da Silva
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Microrganismos, Universidade Federal de São Joao Del-Rei, Sebastião Gonçalves Coelho, Divinópolis, 400, 35501-296, MG, Brazil
| | - Isadora Braga Gandra
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Microrganismos, Universidade Federal de São Joao Del-Rei, Sebastião Gonçalves Coelho, Divinópolis, 400, 35501-296, MG, Brazil
| | - Anna Julia Ribeiro
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Microrganismos, Universidade Federal de São Joao Del-Rei, Sebastião Gonçalves Coelho, Divinópolis, 400, 35501-296, MG, Brazil
| | - Kamila Alves Silva
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Microrganismos, Universidade Federal de São Joao Del-Rei, Sebastião Gonçalves Coelho, Divinópolis, 400, 35501-296, MG, Brazil
| | - Lais Moreira Nogueira
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Microrganismos, Universidade Federal de São Joao Del-Rei, Sebastião Gonçalves Coelho, Divinópolis, 400, 35501-296, MG, Brazil
| | - Juliana Martins Machado
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Microrganismos, Universidade Federal de São Joao Del-Rei, Sebastião Gonçalves Coelho, Divinópolis, 400, 35501-296, MG, Brazil
| | - Reysla Maria da Silveira Mariano
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações Celulares, Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Ana Alice Maia Gonçalves
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações Celulares, Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Ludolf
- Infectologia e Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 30130-100, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Mayron Antonio Candia-Puma
- Computational Biology and Chemistry Research Group, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Urb. San José S/N, Umacollo, Arequipa, 04000, Peru
| | - Miguel Angel Chávez-Fumagalli
- Computational Biology and Chemistry Research Group, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Urb. San José S/N, Umacollo, Arequipa, 04000, Peru
| | - Mariana Campos-da-Paz
- Laboratório de Bioativos & NanoBiotecnologia, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei, Sebastião Gonçalves Coelho, Divinópolis, 400, 35501-296, MG, Brazil
| | - Rodolfo Cordeiro Giunchetti
- Laboratório de Biologia das Interações Celulares, Departamento de Morfologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Alexsandro Sobreira Galdino
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia de Microrganismos, Universidade Federal de São Joao Del-Rei, Sebastião Gonçalves Coelho, Divinópolis, 400, 35501-296, MG, Brazil
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Piao X, Jiang N, Liu S, Duan J, Dai H, Hou N, Chen Q. Schistosoma japonicum EKLF/KLF1 is a potential immune target to tackle schistosomiasis. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:334. [PMID: 37742024 PMCID: PMC10517563 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05947-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interruption of parasite reproduction by targeting migrating schistosomula is a promising strategy for managing schistosomiasis. Hepatic schistosomula proteins previously identified based on second-generation schistosome DNA sequencing were found to hold excellent potential for schistosomiasis japonica diagnosis and as vaccine candidates. However, there are still many unknown schistosomula proteins that warrant further investigations. Herein, a novel schistosomula protein, the Schistosoma japonicum erythroid Krüppel-like factor (SjEKLF/KLF1), was explored. METHODS Sequence alignment was carried out to detect the amino acid sequence characteristics of SjEKLF. The expression profile of SjEKLF was determined by western blot and immunofluorescence analysis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the antigenicity of SjEKLF in hosts. Mice immunised with recombinant SjEKLF were challenged to test the potential value of the protein as an immunoprotective target. RESULTS SjEKLF is defined as EKLF/KLF1 for its C-terminal DNA-binding domain. SjEKLF is mainly expressed in hepatic schistosomula and male adults and located within the intestinal intima of the parasites. Notably, high levels of SjEKLF-specific antibodies were detected in host sera and SjEKLF exhibited outstanding sensitivity and specificity for schistosomiasis japonica immunodiagnosis but failed to distinguish between ongoing infection and previous exposure. In addition, SjEKLF immunisation reduced the infection in vivo, resulting in decreased worm and egg counts, and alleviated body weight loss and hepatomegaly in infected mice. CONCLUSIONS Overall, these findings demonstrate that SjEKLF is critical for the infection of S. japonicum and may be a potential target to help control S. japonicum infection and transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianyu Piao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ning Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Ruminant Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (East), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Shuai Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jiamei Duan
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hang Dai
- Institute of Biological Products, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Hou
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Qijun Chen
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Ruminant Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (East), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.
- The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China.
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Liu J, Wang X, Sheng F, Giri BR, Li S, Xia T, Li X, Cheng G. Metagenomic sequencing for identifying pathogen-specific circulating DNAs and development of diagnostic methods for schistosomiasis. iScience 2023; 26:107495. [PMID: 37636036 PMCID: PMC10457526 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Timely diagnosis of Schistosoma infection, particularly in the early stage is crucial for identifying infected hosts and then taking effective control strategies. Here, metagenomic next-generation sequencing was used to identify pathogen-specific circulating DNAs (cDNAs) in the sera/plasma of New Zealand rabbits infected with S. japonicum, and the identified cDNAs were validated by PCR and qPCR. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP)-based CRISPR-Cas12a and recombinase polymerase amplification-based lateral flow strip (RPA-LF) methods combined with the newly identified cDNA were developed to evaluate the potentials for diagnosing murine and human schistosomiasis. The results indicated that twenty-two cDNAs were identified. The developed LAMP-based CRISPR/Cas12a and RPA-LF methods showed a good potential for diagnosing murine or human schistosomiasis as early as 5 days of post-infection with 5 cercariae infection. In a word, S. japonicum specific cDNAs in circulation of infected hosts could be effective biomarkers for detecting Schistosoma infection particularly for early stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyi Liu
- Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, #500 Zhen-nan Road, Shanghai 200331, People’s Republic of China
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoxu Wang
- School of Biotechnology Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhen Jiang 212100, People’s Republic of China
| | - Fei Sheng
- Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, #500 Zhen-nan Road, Shanghai 200331, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bikash R. Giri
- Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, #500 Zhen-nan Road, Shanghai 200331, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shun Li
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tianqi Xia
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xuxin Li
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guofeng Cheng
- Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, #500 Zhen-nan Road, Shanghai 200331, People’s Republic of China
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5
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Mu Y, Rivera J, McManus DP, Weerakoon KG, Ross AG, Olveda RM, Gordon CA, You H, Jones MK, Cai P. Comparative assessment of the SjSAP4-incorporated gold immunochromatographic assay for the diagnosis of human schistosomiasis japonica. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1249637. [PMID: 37736084 PMCID: PMC10509475 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1249637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Schistosomiasis, a disease caused by parasites of the genus Schistosoma, remains a global public health threat. This study aimed to validate the diagnostic performance of a recently developed gold immunochromatographic assay (GICA) for the detection of S. japonicum infection in a rural endemic area of the Philippines. Methods Human clinical samples were collected from 412 subjects living in Laoang and Palapag municipalities, Northern Samar, the Philippines. The presence of Schistosoma-specific antibodies in serum samples was tested with the SjSAP4-incorporated GICA strips and the results were converted to fully quantitative data by introducing an R value. The performance of the established GICA was further compared with other diagnostic tools, including the Kato-Katz (KK) technique, point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen (POC-CCA), droplet digital (dd) PCR, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Results The developed GICA strip was able to detect KK positive individuals with a sensitivity of 83.3% and absolute specificity. When calibrated with the highly sensitive faecal ddPCR assay, the immunochromatographic assay displayed an accuracy of 60.7%. Globally, the GICA assay showed a high concordance with the SjSAP4-ELISA assay. The schistosomiasis positivity rate determined by the GICA test was similar to those obtained with the SjSAP4-ELISA assay and the ddPCR assay performed on serum samples (SR_ddPCR), and was 2.3 times higher than obtained with the KK method. Conclusion The study further confirms that the developed GICA is a valuable diagnostic tool for detecting light S. japonicum infections and implies that this point-of-care assay is a viable solution for surveying endemic areas of low-intensity schistosomiasis and identifying high-priority endemic areas for targeted interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Mu
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Jonas Rivera
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Donald P. McManus
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Kosala G. Weerakoon
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Allen G. Ross
- Rural Health and Medical Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW, Australia
| | - Remigio M. Olveda
- Department of Immunology, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, Philippines
| | - Catherine A. Gordon
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Hong You
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Malcolm K. Jones
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Pengfei Cai
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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MacGregor SR, McManus DP, Sivakumaran H, Egwang TG, Adriko M, Cai P, Gordon CA, Duke MG, French JD, Collinson N, Olveda RM, Hartel G, Graeff-Teixeira C, Jones MK, You H. Development of CRISPR/Cas13a-based assays for the diagnosis of Schistosomiasis. EBioMedicine 2023; 94:104730. [PMID: 37487416 PMCID: PMC10382885 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Schistosomiasis is a disease that significantly impacts human health in the developing world. Effective diagnostics are urgently needed for improved control of this disease. CRISPR-based technology has rapidly accelerated the development of a revolutionary and powerful diagnostics platform, resulting in the advancement of a class of ultrasensitive, specific, cost-effective and portable diagnostics, typified by applications in COVID-19/cancer diagnosis. METHODS We developed CRISPR-based diagnostic platform SHERLOCK (Specific High-sensitivity Enzymatic Reporter unLOCKing) for the detection of Schistosoma japonicum and S. mansoni by combining recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) with CRISPR-Cas13a detection, measured via fluorescent or colorimetric readouts. We evaluated SHERLOCK assays by using 150 faecal/serum samples collected from Schistosoma-infected ARC Swiss mice (female), and 189 human faecal/serum samples obtained from a S. japonicum-endemic area in the Philippines and a S. mansoni-endemic area in Uganda. FINDINGS The S. japonicum SHERLOCK assay achieved 93-100% concordance with gold-standard qPCR detection across all the samples. The S. mansoni SHERLOCK assay demonstrated higher sensitivity than qPCR and was able to detect infection in mouse serum as early as 3 weeks post-infection. In human samples, S. mansoni SHERLOCK had 100% sensitivity when compared to qPCR of faecal and serum samples. INTERPRETATION These schistosomiasis diagnostic assays demonstrate the potential of SHERLOCK/CRISPR-based diagnostics to provide highly accurate and field-friendly point-of-care tests that could provide the next generation of diagnostic and surveillance tools for parasitic neglected tropical diseases. FUNDING Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre seed grant (2022) and National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia (APP1194462, APP2008433).
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Affiliation(s)
- Skye R MacGregor
- Infection and Inflammation Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Donald P McManus
- Infection and Inflammation Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Haran Sivakumaran
- Genetics & Computational Biology Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Thomas G Egwang
- Department of Immunology and Parasitology, Med Biotech Laboratories, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Moses Adriko
- Vector Borne and NTD Control Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Pengfei Cai
- Infection and Inflammation Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Catherine A Gordon
- Infection and Inflammation Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Mary G Duke
- Infection and Inflammation Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Juliet D French
- Genetics & Computational Biology Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Natasha Collinson
- Infection and Inflammation Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Remigio M Olveda
- Department of Health, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, Philippines
| | - Gunter Hartel
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Statistics, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Carlos Graeff-Teixeira
- Department of Pathology, Infectious Diseases Unit, Health Sciences Center, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil
| | - Malcolm K Jones
- Infection and Inflammation Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Hong You
- Infection and Inflammation Department, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia.
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Piao X, Duan J, Jiang N, Liu S, Hou N, Chen Q. Schistosoma japonicum Tyrosine Hydroxylase is promising targets for immunodiagnosis and immunoprotection of Schistosomiasis japonica. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011389. [PMID: 37276235 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Identification of promising schistosome antigen targets is crucial for the development of anti-schistosomal strategies. Schistosomes rely on their neuromuscular systems to coordinate important locomotory behaviors. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is critical in the initial rate-limiting step in biosynthesis of catecholamine, the important neuroactive agents, which promote the lengthening of the worm through muscular relaxation and are therefore of great importance to the movement of the organism both within and between its hosts. THs from both Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma japonicum and their enzyme activities have been discovered; however, the role of these proteins during infection have not been explored. Herein, a recombinant protein of the nonconserved fragment of S. japonicum TH (SjTH) was produced and the corresponding polyclonal antibody was generated. The expression and antigenicity of SjTH were detected by qRT-PCR, western blotting, immunofluorescence assays, and ELISA. Mice immunized with the recombinant SjTH were challenged with cercariae to evaluate the immunoprotective value of this protein. Our results showed SjTH not only distributed in the head associated with the central nervous system, but also expressed along the tegument and the intestinal intima, which are involved in the movement, coupling and digestion of the parasites and associated with the peripheral nervous system. This protein can effectively stimulate humoral immune responses in mammalian hosts and has high potential as a biomarker for schistosomiasis immunodiagnosis. Furthermore, immunization with recombinant SjTH showed to reduce the worm and egg burden of challenged mice, and to contribute to the systemic balance of the Th1/Th2 responses. Taken together, these results suggest that SjTH is an important pathogenic molecule in S. japonicum and may be a possible target for anti-schistosomal approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianyu Piao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jiamei Duan
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ning Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Ruminant Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (East), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Shuai Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Hou
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Qijun Chen
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Ruminant Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (East), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China
- The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
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Mu Y, McManus DP, Gordon CA, You H, Ross AG, Olveda RM, Cai P. Development and assessment of a novel gold immunochromatographic assay for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis japonica. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1165480. [PMID: 37077910 PMCID: PMC10106775 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1165480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundThe neglected zoonosis, schistosomiasis japonica, remains a major public health problem in the Philippines. The current study aims to develop a novel gold immunochromatographic assay (GICA) and evaluate its performance in the detection of Schistosoma japonicum infection.MethodsA GICA strip incorporating a S. japonicum saposin protein, SjSAP4 was developed. For each GICA strip test, diluted serum sample (50 µl) was loaded and strips were scanned after 10 min to convert the results into images. ImageJ was used to calculate an R value, which was defined as the signal intensity of the test line divided by the signal intensity of the control line within the cassette. After determination of optimal serum dilution and diluent, the GICA assay was evaluated with sera collected from non-endemic controls (n = 20) and individuals living in schistosomiasis-endemic areas of the Philippines (n = 60), including 40 Kato Katz (KK)-positive participants and 20 subjects confirmed as KK-negative and faecal droplet digital PCR assay (F_ddPCR)-negative at a dilution of 1:20. An ELISA assay evaluating IgG levels against SjSAP4 was also performed on the same panel of sera.ResultsPhosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and 0.9% NaCl were determined as optimal dilution buffer for the GICA assay. The strips tested with serial dilutions of a pooled serum sample from KK-positive individuals (n = 3) suggested that a relatively wide range of dilutions (from 1:10 to 1:320) can be applied for the test. Using the non-endemic donors as controls, the GICA strip showed a sensitivity of 95.0% and absolute specificity; while using the KK-negative and F_ddPCR-negative subjects as controls, the immunochromatographic assay had a sensitivity of 85.0% and a specificity of 80.0%. The SjSAP4-incorperated GICA displayed a high concordance with the SjSAP4-ELISA assay.ConclusionsThe developed GICA assay exhibited a similar diagnostic performance with that of the SjSAP4-ELISA assay, yet the former can be performed by local personnel with minimal training with no requirement for specialised equipment. The GICA assay established here represents a rapid, easy-to-use, accurate and field-friendly diagnostic tool for the on-site surveillance/screening of S. japonicum infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Mu
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Donald P. McManus
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Catherine A. Gordon
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Hong You
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Allen G. Ross
- Rural Health and Medical Research Institute, Charles Sturt University, Orange, NSW, Australia
| | - Remigio M. Olveda
- Department of Immunology, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Manila, Philippines
| | - Pengfei Cai
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- *Correspondence: Pengfei Cai,
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9
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Vengesai A, Muleya V, Midzi H, Tinago TV, Chipako I, Manuwa M, Naicker T, Mduluza T. Diagnostic performances of Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mansoni recombinant proteins, peptides and chimeric proteins antibody based tests. Systematic scoping review. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282233. [PMID: 36862712 PMCID: PMC9980832 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traditional diagnostic tests for schistosome infections are suboptimal, particularly when the parasite burden is low. In the present review we sought to identify recombinant proteins, peptides, and chimeric proteins with potential to be used as sensitive and specific diagnostic tools for schistosomiasis. METHODS The review was guided by PRISMA-ScR guidelines, Arksey and O'Malley's framework, and guidelines from the Joanna Briggs Institute. Five databases were searched: Cochrane library, PubMed, EMBASE, PsycInfo and CINAHL, alongside preprints. Identified literature were assessed by two reviewers for inclusion. A narrative summary was used to interpret the tabulated results. RESULTS Diagnostic performances were reported as specificities, sensitivities, and AUC. The AUC for S. haematobium recombinant antigens ranged from 0.65 to 0.98, and 0.69 to 0.96 for urine IgG ELISA. S. mansoni recombinant antigens had sensitivities ranging from 65.3% to 100% and specificities ranging from 57.4% to 100%. Except for 4 peptides which had poor diagnostic performances, most peptides had sensitivities ranging from 67.71% to 96.15% and specificities ranging from 69.23% to 100%. S. mansoni chimeric protein was reported to have a sensitivity of 86.8% and a specificity of 94.2%. CONCLUSION The tetraspanin CD63 antigen had the best diagnostic performance for S. haematobium. The tetraspanin CD63 antigen Serum IgG POC-ICTs had a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 100%. Peptide Smp_150390.1 (216-230) serum based IgG ELISA had the best diagnostic performance for S. mansoni with a sensitivity of 96.15% and a specificity of 100%. Peptides were reported to demonstrate good to excellent diagnostic performances. S. mansoni multi-peptide chimeric protein further improved the diagnostic accuracy of synthetic peptides. Together with the advantages associated with urine sampling technique, we recommend development of multi-peptide chimeric proteins urine based point of care tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Vengesai
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe
- * E-mail:
| | - Victor Muleya
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe
| | - Herald Midzi
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | | | - Isaac Chipako
- Aravas Pharmaceuticals Pvt LTD, Prospect Industrial Area, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Marble Manuwa
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Thajasvarie Naicker
- Discipline of Optics and Imaging, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Takafira Mduluza
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
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10
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Identification of a linear B-cell epitope on the Schistosoma japonicum saposin protein, SjSAP4: Potential as a component of a multi-epitope diagnostic assay. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010619. [PMID: 35816547 PMCID: PMC9302751 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Schistosoma japonicum is one of three major species of blood flukes causing schistosomiasis, a disease, which continues to be a major public health issue in the Philippines. SjSAP4, a member of a multigene family of saposin-like proteins, is a recognized immunodiagnostic biomarker for schistosomiasis japonica. This study aimed to identify linear B-cell epitopes on SjSAP4 and to validate their potential as components of a multi-epitope assay for the serological diagnosis of schistosomiasis japonica. Methodology SjSAP4-derived peptides were expressed as GST-peptide-fused proteins and these were Western blot probed with human serum samples from S. japonicum Kato-Katz (KK)-positive individuals and uninfected controls. A core epitope was further identified by Western blotting through probing a series of truncated peptides with the schistosomiasis patient sera. The diagnostic performance of the core epitope-containing peptides and the full-length SjSAP4 was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a panel of sera collected from subjects resident in a schistosomiasis-endemic area of the Philippines. Main findings As a result of the peptide mapping, one peptide (P15) was found to be highly immunogenic in the KK-positive individuals. We subsequently showed that -S163QCSLVGDIFVDKYLD178- is a core B-cell epitope of P15. Subsequent ELISAs incorporating SjSAP4, SjSAP4-Peptide and SjSP-13V2-Peptide showed a sensitivity of 94.0%, 46.0% and 74.0%, respectively, and a specificity of 97.1%, 100% and 100%, respectively. Notably, complementary recognition of the B-cell epitopes (SjSAP4-Peptide and SjSP-13V2-Peptide) was observed in a subset of the KK-positive individuals. A dual epitope-ELISA (SjSAP4-Peptide + SjSP-13V2-Peptide-ELISA) showed a diagnostic sensitivity of 84.0% and a specificity of 100%. Conclusions/Significance In this study, -S163QCSLVGDIFVDKYLD178- was identified as a dominant linear B-cell epitope on SjSAP4. This peptide and the complementary recognition of other B-cell epitopes using sera from different KK-positive individuals can provide the basis of developing a multi-epitope assay for the serological diagnosis of schistosomiasis. The recent road map (2021–2030) released by WHO for controlling or eliminating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) highlights diagnostics as a major focus. Development and deployment of accurate, affordable and field-friendly diagnostics/surveillance tools will be crucial for the control and elimination of schistosomiasis. Multi-epitope chimeric antigens, constructed based on linear B-cell epitopes identified from highly antigenic antigens, may achieve not only an equivalent or superior diagnostic performance compared to the parent immunogens but also exhibit more optimal physicochemical properties. However, to date, only a limited number of linear B-cell epitopes have been identified for the serological diagnosis of schistosomiasis. In this study, we identified a linear B-cell epitope (-S163QCSLVGDIFVDKYLD178-) on SjSAP4, a recognized immunodiagnostic biomarker for schistosomiasis japonica, and validated its potential as a component of a multi-epitope assay for the serological diagnosis of schistosomiasis japonica. Notably, differential recognition of B-cell epitopes (SjSAP4-Peptide and SjSP-13V2-Peptide) was observed in a subset of subjects positive by the Kato-Katz technique for the disease. A dual epitope-ELISA (SjSAP4-Peptide + SjSP-13V2-Peptide-ELISA) showed a superior diagnostic performance (84.0% sensitivity and 100% specificity) than individual-epitope ELISAs. The findings in this study provide support for the development of multi-epitope antigen-based diagnostics for schistosomiasis.
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11
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Ogongo P, Nyakundi RK, Chege GK, Ochola L. The Road to Elimination: Current State of Schistosomiasis Research and Progress Towards the End Game. Front Immunol 2022; 13:846108. [PMID: 35592327 PMCID: PMC9112563 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.846108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The new WHO Roadmap for Neglected Tropical Diseases targets the global elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem. To date, control strategies have focused on effective diagnostics, mass drug administration, complementary and integrative public health interventions. Non-mammalian intermediate hosts and other vertebrates promote transmission of schistosomiasis and have been utilized as experimental model systems. Experimental animal models that recapitulate schistosomiasis immunology, disease progression, and pathology observed in humans are important in testing and validation of control interventions. We discuss the pivotal value of these models in contributing to elimination of schistosomiasis. Treatment of schistosomiasis relies heavily on mass drug administration of praziquantel whose efficacy is comprised due to re-infections and experimental systems have revealed the inability to kill juvenile schistosomes. In terms of diagnosis, nonhuman primate models have demonstrated the low sensitivity of the gold standard Kato Katz smear technique. Antibody assays are valuable tools for evaluating efficacy of candidate vaccines, and sera from graded infection experiments are useful for evaluating diagnostic sensitivity of different targets. Lastly, the presence of Schistosomes can compromise the efficacy of vaccines to other infectious diseases and its elimination will benefit control programs of the other diseases. As the focus moves towards schistosomiasis elimination, it will be critical to integrate treatment, diagnostics, novel research tools such as sequencing, improved understanding of disease pathogenesis and utilization of experimental models to assist with evaluating performance of new approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Ogongo
- Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Primate Research, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Ruth K. Nyakundi
- Department of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Primate Research, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Gerald K. Chege
- Primate Unit & Delft Animal Centre, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Lucy Ochola
- Department of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Institute of Primate Research, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Behavioural and Lifestyle Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha, South Africa
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12
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Hou N, Piao X, Jiang N, Liu S, Cai P, Liu B, McManus DP, Chen Q. Novel Hepatic Schistosomula Antigens as Promising Targets for Immunodiagnosis and Immunoprotection of Schistosomiasis japonica. J Infect Dis 2022; 225:1991-2001. [PMID: 35235942 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiac077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Antigens of migrating schistosomula are promising candidates as schistosomiasis vaccine targets, since immune attack on hepatic schistosomula would interrupt the parasites life cycle and reduce egg burden on the host. Here, we report a collection of Schistosoma japonicum schistosomula proteins (SjScP), which are highly expressed in hepatic schistosomula. We found that a number of these SjScPs were highly antigenic and could effectively stimulate humoral immune responses in both human and other mammalian hosts. In particular, SjScP25, SjScP37, SjScP41, SjScP80, SjScP88 showed high potential as biomarkers for schistosomiasis immunodiagnosis. Furthermore, we demonstrated that immunization with several of the recombinant SjScPs were able to protect mice from S. japonicum challenge infection, with SjScP25 generating the most protective results. Our work represents a group of novel schistosome immunogens, which may be promsing schistosomiasis japonica diagonosis and vaccine candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Hou
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, China
| | - Xianyu Piao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, China
| | - Ning Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Ruminant Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (East), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.,The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
| | - Shuai Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, China
| | - Pengfei Cai
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Bing Liu
- Institute for Protein Science and Phage Research, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Shanxi, China
| | - Donald P McManus
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Program, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Qijun Chen
- NHC Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Dong Dan San Tiao, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Livestock Infectious Diseases in Northeast China, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Ruminant Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (East), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.,The Research Unit for Pathogenic Mechanisms of Zoonotic Parasites, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenyang, China
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13
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Pearson MS, Tedla BA, Becker L, Nakajima R, Jasinskas A, Mduluza T, Mutapi F, Oeuvray C, Greco B, Sotillo J, Felgner PL, Loukas A. Immunomics-Guided Antigen Discovery for Praziquantel-Induced Vaccination in Urogenital Human Schistosomiasis. Front Immunol 2021; 12:663041. [PMID: 34113343 PMCID: PMC8186320 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.663041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the enormous morbidity attributed to schistosomiasis, there is still no vaccine to combat the disease for the hundreds of millions of infected people. The anthelmintic drug, praziquantel, is the mainstay treatment option, although its molecular mechanism of action remains poorly defined. Praziquantel treatment damages the outermost surface of the parasite, the tegument, liberating surface antigens from dying worms that invoke a robust immune response which in some subjects results in immunologic resistance to reinfection. Herein we term this phenomenon Drug-Induced Vaccination (DIV). To identify the antigenic targets of DIV antibodies in urogenital schistosomiasis, we constructed a recombinant proteome array consisting of approximately 1,000 proteins informed by various secretome datasets including validated proteomes and bioinformatic predictions. Arrays were screened with sera from human subjects treated with praziquantel and shown 18 months later to be either reinfected (chronically infected subjects, CI) or resistant to reinfection (DIV). IgG responses to numerous antigens were significantly elevated in DIV compared to CI subjects, and indeed IgG responses to some antigens were completely undetectable in CI subjects but robustly recognized by DIV subjects. One antigen in particular, a cystatin cysteine protease inhibitor stood out as a unique target of DIV IgG, so recombinant cystatin was produced, and its vaccine efficacy assessed in a heterologous Schistosoma mansoni mouse challenge model. While there was no significant impact of vaccination with adjuvanted cystatin on adult worm numbers, highly significant reductions in liver egg burdens (45-55%, P<0.0001) and intestinal egg burdens (50-54%, P<0.0003) were achieved in mice vaccinated with cystatin in two independent trials. This study has revealed numerous antigens that are targets of DIV antibodies in urogenital schistosomiasis and offer promise as subunit vaccine targets for a drug-linked vaccination approach to controlling schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark S. Pearson
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
| | - Bemnet A. Tedla
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
| | - Luke Becker
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
| | - Rie Nakajima
- Vaccine Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Al Jasinskas
- Vaccine Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Takafira Mduluza
- Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
- TIBA Partnership, NIHR Global Health Research Unit Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa (TIBA) at the University of Edinburgh based in Harare (TIBA Zimbabwe), Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Francisca Mutapi
- Institute of Immunology and infection Research, Ashworth Laboratories, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- TIBA Partnership, NIHR Global Health Research Unit Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa (TIBA) at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Claude Oeuvray
- TIBA Partnership, NIHR Global Health Research Unit Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa (TIBA) at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Beatrice Greco
- Global Health Institute of Merck, Ares Trading S.A., a subsidiary of Merck KGaA (Darmstadt, Germany), Eysins, Switzerland
| | - Javier Sotillo
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
- Parasitology Reference and Research Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Philip L. Felgner
- Vaccine Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Alex Loukas
- Centre for Molecular Therapeutics, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD, Australia
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14
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Chen C, Guo Q, Fu Z, Liu J, Lin J, Xiao K, Sun P, Cong X, Liu R, Hong Y. Reviews and advances in diagnostic research on Schistosoma japonicum. Acta Trop 2021; 213:105743. [PMID: 33159894 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2020] [Revised: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is an acute and chronic parasitic disease caused by blood flukes (trematode worms) of the genus Schistosoma. Schistosoma japonicum (S. japonicum) infection has decreased significantly in prevalence and intensity of infection in China. However, this disease still remains a serious public health problem in some endemic areas of the Philippines and Indonesia. Thus, more accurate and sensitive methods are much needed for further control of this disease. Here, we review the research progress in techniques for the diagnosis of S. japonicum infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Chen
- National Reference Laboratory of Animal Schistosomiasis, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, P.R.China
| | - Qinghong Guo
- National Reference Laboratory of Animal Schistosomiasis, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, P.R.China
| | - Zhiqiang Fu
- National Reference Laboratory of Animal Schistosomiasis, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, P.R.China
| | - Jinming Liu
- National Reference Laboratory of Animal Schistosomiasis, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, P.R.China
| | - Jiaojiao Lin
- National Reference Laboratory of Animal Schistosomiasis, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, P.R.China
| | - Kai Xiao
- Huancui Development Center for Animal Husbandry, Weihai, 264200, P.R.China
| | - Pengxiang Sun
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Huancui, Weihai, 264200, P.R.China
| | - Xiaonan Cong
- Huancui Development Center for Animal Husbandry, Weihai, 264200, P.R.China
| | - Runxia Liu
- Department of Biology and Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007, USA
| | - Yang Hong
- National Reference Laboratory of Animal Schistosomiasis, Key Laboratory of Animal Parasitology of Ministry of Agriculture, Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai, 200241, P.R.China..
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15
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Analyses of the expression, immunohistochemical properties and serodiagnostic potential of Schistosoma japonicum peroxiredoxin-4. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:436. [PMID: 32867818 PMCID: PMC7460784 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04313-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Schistosoma japonicum, which inhabits the mesenteric vein of the mammalian hosts for about 20 to 30 years, is subjected to the oxidative stresses from the host defense mechanism during their intra-mammalian stages. To counteract this host immune attack, the parasite utilizes their antioxidant system for survival inside the host. Peroxiredoxins (Prxs), thiol-specific antioxidant proteins, play an essential role for protecting the parasite against oxidative stress by reducing hydrogen peroxide to water. Only three types of 2-Cys Prxs have been previously characterized in S. japonicum whereas a fourth Prx has been identified for Schistosoma mansoni as Prx-4. A sequence coding homologous to this gene in the S. japonicum database was identified, characterized and expressed as recombinant SjPrx-4 protein (rSjPrx-4). Furthermore, rSjPrx-4 was evaluated in this study for its diagnostic potentials in detecting S. japonicum infection in humans. Results The gene found in the parasite genome contained 2 active-site cysteines with conserved sequences in the predicted amino acid (AA) sequence and showed 75% identity with that of the previously characterized Prx (TPx-1) of S. japonicum. The gene was expressed in different stages of schistosome life-cycle with highest transcription level in the adult male. The gene was cloned into a plasmid vector and then transfected into Escherichia coli for expression of rSjPrx-4. Anti-rSjPrx-4 mouse sera recognized native SjPrx-4 in egg and adult worm lysate by western blotting. The result of a mixed function oxidation assay in which rSjPrx-4 prevented the nicking of DNA from hydroxyl radicals confirmed its antioxidant activity. Subsequently, immunolocalization analysis showed the localization of SjPrx-4 inside the egg, on the tegument and in the parenchyma of the adult worm. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results showed that rSjPrx-4 has 83.3% sensitivity and 87.8% specificity. Its diagnostic potential was further evaluated in combination with recombinant SjTPx-1 protein, yielding an improved sensitivity and specificity of 90% and 92.7%, respectively. Conclusions These results suggest that SjPrx-4 plays a role as an antioxidant dealing with oxidative stresses of S. japonicum, and its diagnostic potential improved by coupling it with SjTPx-1 is a proof for developing a serological test with better diagnostic performance for human schistosomiasis.![]()
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16
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Crosnier C, Hokke CH, Protasio AV, Brandt C, Rinaldi G, Langenberg MCC, Clare S, Janse JJ, Wilson S, Berriman M, Roestenberg M, Wright GJ. Screening of a library of recombinant Schistosoma mansoni proteins with sera from murine and human controlled infections identifies early serological markers. J Infect Dis 2020; 225:1435-1446. [PMID: 32524140 PMCID: PMC9016452 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Schistosomiasis is a major global health problem caused by blood-dwelling parasitic worms, which is currently tackled primarily by mass administration of the drug praziquantel. Appropriate drug treatment strategies are informed by diagnostics that establish the prevalence and intensity of infection, which, in regions of low transmission, should be highly sensitive. Methods To identify sensitive new serological markers of Schistosoma mansoni infections, we have compiled a recombinant protein library of parasite cell-surface and secreted proteins expressed in mammalian cells. Results Together with a time series of sera samples from volunteers experimentally infected with a defined number of male parasites, we probed this protein library to identify several markers that can detect primary infections with as low as 10 parasites and as early as 5 weeks postinfection. Conclusions These new markers could be further explored as valuable tools to detect ongoing and previous S mansoni infections, including in endemic regions where transmission is low.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cornelis H Hokke
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Anna V Protasio
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK.,Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | - Marijke C C Langenberg
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Jacqueline J Janse
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Shona Wilson
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Meta Roestenberg
- Department of Parasitology, Leiden University Medical Center, ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
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Ma L, Zhao W, Hou X, Liu M, Li Y, Shen L, Xu X. Identification of linear epitopes in SjSP-13 of Schistosoma japonicum using a GST-peptide fusion protein microplate array. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:507. [PMID: 31666115 PMCID: PMC6822365 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3767-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The identification and characterization of epitopes facilitate the discovery and development of new therapeutics, vaccines and diagnostics for infectious diseases. In this study, we developed a glutathione S-transferase (GST)-peptide fusion protein microplate array for the identification of linear B-cell epitopes and applied this novel method to the identification of linear B-cell epitopes of SjSP-13, an immunodiagnostic biomarker of schistosomiasis japonica. Methods SjSP-13 was divided into 17 overlapped peptides (p1-17), and the coding sequence of each peptide was obtained by annealing two complementary oligonucleotides. SjSP-13 peptides were expressed by fusion with an N-terminal GST tag and a C-terminal 6xHis tag. The GST-peptide-His fusion protein was specifically bound to the Immobilizer Glutathione MicroWell 96-well plates without purification. SjSP-13 peptides and core epitopes that could be recognized by sera from schistosomiasis patients were identified by ELISA and confirmed by Western blot analysis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to determine the diagnostic validity of the identified peptide. Results Full-length GST-peptide-His fusion proteins were successfully expressed and specifically bound to the Immobilizer Glutathione MicroWell 96-well plates. Two adjacent peptides (p7 and p8) were found to be highly immunogenic in humans. The core epitope of p7 and p8 is an 11-aa peptide (80KCLDVTDNLPE90) and an 8-aa peptide (90EKIIQFAE97), respectively. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) value of the peptide which contains the two identified epitopes is 0.947 ± 0.019. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the peptide is 76.7% (95% CI: 68.8–84.5%) and 100%, respectively. Conclusions 90EKIIQFAE97 and 80KCLDVTDNLPE90 are the two linear epitopes of SjSP-13 recognized by patient sera, and could be potential serological markers for schistosomiasis japonica.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Ma
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenrong Zhao
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xunya Hou
- Hunan Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Yueyang, China
| | - Mengmeng Liu
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanna Li
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Shen
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xindong Xu
- Research Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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Xu X, Cui X, Zhu L, Li Z, Zhang Y, Ma L, Pan W. Effects of Polymorphisms in the SjSP-13 Gene of Schistosoma japonicum on Its Diagnostic Efficacy and Immunogenicity. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1695. [PMID: 30140260 PMCID: PMC6094988 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis japonica is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases in China. The scarcity of effective diagnostic tools is a major factor that contributes to the high prevalence of schistosomiasis japonica. SjSP-13 is a promising serological diagnostic biomarker of the disease. However, it is unclear whether polymorphisms in SjSP-13 affect its diagnostic efficacy and immunogenicity. Here, we found the SjSP-13 gene was highly polymorphic, and all the alleles of the gene were clustered into two clades, clade A and B. SjSP-13.6 and SjSP-13.25, the representative alleles of clade A and B, were produced in Escherichia coli. The diagnostic value of SjSP-13.6 (AUC = 0.983 ± 0.006), was found to be similar to the SjSP-13.25 (AUC = 0.973 ± 0.009) by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. SjSP-13.6 and SjSP-13.25 have the same specificity (96.7%), while the sensitivity of SjSP-13.6 (90.4%) is slightly but not significantly higher than SjSP-13.25 (85.2%). The combination use of the two alleles (SjSP-13.6/25) didn’t increase the diagnostic performance of SjSP-13 as the AUC value of SjSP-13.6/25 is 0.977 ± 0.009, lower than individual SjSP-13.6 (AUC = 0.983 ± 0.006). In addition, we found the immunogenicity of clade A alleles is significantly higher than clade B in Schistosoma japonicum naturally infected animals and patients, as the mean antibody levels of SjSP-13.6 was significantly higher than SjSP-13.25. We conclude that polymorphisms of the SjSP-13 gene should not affect its diagnostic efficacy, and it is not necessary to combine the alleles of the two clades for diagnosis of schistosomiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xindong Xu
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Development, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaobing Cui
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Development, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Liufang Zhu
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Development, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhengli Li
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Development, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuanbin Zhang
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Development, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Ma
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Development, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Weiqing Pan
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Development, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Department of Tropical Infectious Diseases, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
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Diagnosis of schistosomiasis mansoni: an evaluation of existing methods and research towards single worm pair detection. Parasitology 2018; 145:1355-1366. [PMID: 29506583 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182018000240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The inadequacy of current diagnostics for the detection of low worm burdens in humans means that schistosomiasis mansoni is more widespread than previously acknowledged. With the inception of mass drug treatment programmes aimed at disease elimination and the advent of human vaccine trials, the need for more sensitive diagnostics is evident. In this review, we evaluate the merits and limitations of the principal diagnostic methods, namely detection of eggs in faeces; anti-schistosome antibodies in serum; parasite-derived proteins and glycans in serum or urine; parasite DNA in blood, faeces or urine. Only in the baboon model, where actual worm burden is determined by portal perfusion, have faecal smear and circulating antigen methods been calibrated, and shown to have thresholds of detection of 10-19 worm pairs. There is scope for improvement in all the four methods of detection, e.g. the identification of single targets for host antibodies to improve the specificity of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Despite recent advances in the definition of the schistosome secretome, there have been no comprehensive biomarker investigations of parasite products in the urine of infected patients. Certainly, the admirable goal of eliminating schistosomiasis will not be achieved unless individuals with low worm burdens can be diagnosed.
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Cai P, Weerakoon KG, Mu Y, Olveda DU, Piao X, Liu S, Olveda RM, Chen Q, Ross AG, McManus DP. A Parallel Comparison of Antigen Candidates for Development of an Optimized Serological Diagnosis of Schistosomiasis Japonica in the Philippines. EBioMedicine 2017; 24:237-246. [PMID: 28943229 PMCID: PMC5652020 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2017.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Revised: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Schistosoma japonicum is stubbornly persistent in China and the Philippines. Fast and accurate diagnostic tools are required to monitor effective control measures against schistosomiasis japonica. Promising antigen candidates for the serological diagnosis of schistosomiasis japonica have generally been identified from the Chinese strain of S. japonicum. However, the Chinese (SjC) and Philippine (SjP) strains of S. japonicum express a number of clear phenotypic differences, including aspects of host immune responses. This feature thereby emphasized the requirement to determine whether antigens identified as having diagnostic value for SjC infection are also suitable for the diagnosis of SjP infection. In the current study, 10 antigens were selected for comparison of diagnostic performance of the SjP infection using ELISA. On testing of sera from 180 subjects in the Philippines, SjSAP4 exhibited the best diagnostic performance with 94.03% sensitivity and 98.33% specificity using an optimized serum dilution. In another large scale testing with 412 serum samples, a combination (SjSAP4 + Sj23-LHD (large hydrophilic domain)) provided the best diagnostic outcome with 87.04% sensitivity and 96.67% specificity. This combination could be used in future for serological diagnosis of schistosomiasis in the Philippines, thereby representing an important component for monitoring integrated control measures. Sj23-LHD was the most promising antigen candidate for early diagnosis of schistosomiasis japonica in a murine model. SjSAP4 + Sj23-LHD had the highest diagnostic value when probed with sera from a human cohort with low infection intensity. We have developed a novel diagnostic tool that can aid in the integrated control of schistosomiasis in the Philippines.
Schistosomiasis japonica remains a major public health concern in China and the Philippines. Development of accurate and affordable diagnostic tools is a necessity for the control and elimination of schistosomiasis. The differences in the mammalian host immunological responses to Chinese (SjC) and Philippine (SjP) strains of S. japonicum necessitated validation of proven SjC serological markers for application in the diagnosis of SjP infections. Ten antigens were selected for comparison, in ELISA, for their potential of the diagnosis of SjP infection. The results provide the basis for developing an affordable and easy-to-operate tool for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis in the Philippines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Cai
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Kosala G Weerakoon
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland, Australia
| | - Yi Mu
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland, Australia
| | - David U Olveda
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Xianyu Piao
- MOH Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, PR China
| | - Shuai Liu
- MOH Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, PR China
| | - Remigio M Olveda
- Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Department of Health, Manila, Philippines
| | - Qijun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Shangyang Agricultural University, Shengyang, PR China
| | - Allen G Ross
- Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Donald P McManus
- Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Queensland, Australia.
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Wang XQ, Wang FP, Chen W, Huang J, Bazaka K, Ostrikov KK. Non-equilibrium plasma prevention of Schistosoma japonicum transmission. Sci Rep 2016; 6:35353. [PMID: 27739459 PMCID: PMC5064309 DOI: 10.1038/srep35353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 09/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosoma japonicum is a widespread human and animal parasite that causes intestinal and hepatosplenic schistosomiasis linked to colon, liver and bladder cancers, and anemia. Estimated 230 million people are currently infected with Schistosoma spp, with 779 million people at risk of contracting the parasite. Infection occurs when a host comes into contact with cercariae, a planktonic larval stage of the parasite, and can be prevented by inactivating the larvae, commonly by chemical treatment. We investigated the use of physical non-equilibrium plasma generated at atmospheric pressure using custom-made dielectric barrier discharge reactor to kill S. japonicum cercariae. Survival rate decreased with treatment time and applied power. Plasmas generated in O2 and air gas discharges were more effective in killing S. japonicum cercariae than that generated in He, which is directly related to the mechanism by which cercariae are inactivated. Reactive oxygen species, such as O atoms, abundant in O2 plasma and NO in air plasma play a major role in killing of S. japonicum cercariae via oxidation mechanisms. Similar level of efficacy is also shown for a gliding arc discharge plasma jet generated in ambient air, a system that may be more appropriate for scale-up and integration into existing water treatment processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing-Quan Wang
- School of Physics and Electronic Information, Institute of Optoelectronic Materials and Technology, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China.,School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.,Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
| | - Feng-Peng Wang
- School of Physics and Electronic Information, Institute of Optoelectronic Materials and Technology, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Wei Chen
- School of Physics and Electronic Information, Institute of Optoelectronic Materials and Technology, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Jun Huang
- School of Physics and Electronic Information, Institute of Optoelectronic Materials and Technology, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000, China
| | - Kateryna Bazaka
- School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.,Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.,Institute for Future Environments, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.,CSIRO-QUT Joint Sustainable Processes and Devices Laboratory, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, P.O.Box 218, Lindfield, NSW 2070, Australia
| | - Kostya Ken Ostrikov
- School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.,Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.,Institute for Future Environments, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.,CSIRO-QUT Joint Sustainable Processes and Devices Laboratory, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, P.O.Box 218, Lindfield, NSW 2070, Australia
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