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Vengesai A, Manuwa M, Midzi H, Mandeya M, Muleya V, Mujeni K, Chipako I, Mduluza T. Identification of Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mansoni linear B-cell epitopes with diagnostic potential using in silico immunoinformatic tools and peptide microarray technology. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2024; 18:e0011887. [PMID: 39173089 PMCID: PMC11373837 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Immunoinformatic tools can be used to predict schistosome-specific B-cell epitopes with little sequence identity to human proteins and antigens other than the target. This study reports an approach for identifying schistosome peptides mimicking linear B-cell epitopes using in-silico tools and peptide microarray immunoassay validation. METHOD Firstly, a comprehensive literature search was conducted to obtain published schistosome-specific peptides and recombinant proteins with the best overall diagnostic performances. For novel peptides, linear B-cell epitopes were predicted from target recombinant proteins using ABCpred, Bcepred and BepiPred 2.0 in-silico tools. Together with the published peptides, predicted peptides with the highest probability of being B-cell epitopes and the lowest sequence identity with proteins from human and other pathogens were selected. Antibodies against the peptides were measured in sera, using peptide microarray immunoassays. Area under the ROC curve was calculated to assess the overall diagnostic performances of the peptides. RESULTS Peptide AA81008-19-30 had excellent and acceptable diagnostic performances for discriminating S. mansoni and S. haematobium positives from healthy controls, with AUC values of 0.8043 and 0.7326 respectively for IgG. Peptides MS3_10186-123-131, MS3_10385-339-354, SmSPI-177-193, SmSPI-379-388, MS3-10186-40-49 and SmS-197-214 had acceptable diagnostic performances for discriminating S. mansoni positives from healthy controls with AUC values ranging from 0.7098 to 0.7763 for IgG. Peptides SmSPI-359-372, Smp126160-438-452 and MS3 10186-25-41 had acceptable diagnostic performances for discriminating S. mansoni positives from S. mansoni negatives with AUC values of 0.7124, 0.7156 and 0.7115 respectively for IgG. Peptide MS3-10186-40-49 had an acceptable diagnostic performance for discriminating S. mansoni positives from healthy controls, with an AUC value of 0.7413 for IgM. CONCLUSION One peptide with a good diagnostic performance and nine peptides with acceptable diagnostic performances were identified using the immunoinformatic approach and peptide microarray validation. There is need for evaluation of the peptides with true negatives and a good standard positive reference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Vengesai
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Midlands State University, Senga Road, Gweru, Zimbabwe
| | - Marble Manuwa
- Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zimbabwe, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Herald Midzi
- Department of Applied Biosciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Midlands State University, Senga Road, Gweru, Zimbabwe
| | - Masimba Mandeya
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Midlands State University, Senga Road, Gweru, Zimbabwe
| | - Victor Muleya
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Midlands State University, Senga Road, Gweru, Zimbabwe
| | - Keith Mujeni
- Partnership in Education Training and Research Advancement, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Isaac Chipako
- Health Economics and Policy Department, Division of Health Research Graduate College, Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom
| | - Takafira Mduluza
- Department of Biotechnology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zimbabwe, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
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Zhou X, Zhang Q, Chen JH, Dai JF, Kassegne K. Revisiting the antigen markers of vector-borne parasitic diseases identified by immunomics: identification and application to disease control. Expert Rev Proteomics 2024; 21:205-216. [PMID: 38584506 DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2024.2336994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Protein microarray is a promising immunomic approach for identifying biomarkers. Based on our previous study that reviewed parasite antigens and recent parasitic omics research, this article expands to include information on vector-borne parasitic diseases (VBPDs), namely, malaria, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, babesiosis, trypanosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, and onchocerciasis. AREAS COVERED We revisit and systematically summarize antigen markers of vector-borne parasites identified by the immunomic approach and discuss the latest advances in identifying antigens for the rational development of diagnostics and vaccines. The applications and challenges of this approach for VBPD control are also discussed. EXPERT OPINION The immunomic approach has enabled the identification and/or validation of antigen markers for vaccine development, diagnosis, disease surveillance, and treatment. However, this approach presents several challenges, including limited sample size, variability in antigen expression, false-positive results, complexity of omics data, validation and reproducibility, and heterogeneity of diseases. In addition, antigen involvement in host immune evasion and antigen sensitivity/specificity are major issues in its application. Despite these limitations, this approach remains promising for controlling VBPD. Advances in technology and data analysis methods should continue to improve candidate antigen identification, as well as the use of a multiantigen approach in diagnostic and vaccine development for VBPD control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Zhou
- MOE Key Laboratory of Geriatric Diseases and Immunology, School of Biology & Basic Medical Science, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Qianqian Zhang
- Institute of Biology and Medical Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jun-Hu Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Intelligent Tracking and Forecasting for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Diseases Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research); National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China (NHC) Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology; World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases; National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Hainan Tropical Diseases Research Center (Hainan Sub-Center, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), Haikou, China
| | - Jian-Feng Dai
- Institute of Biology and Medical Sciences, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Kokouvi Kassegne
- School of Global Health, Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- One Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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Grąźlewska W, Sołowińska K, Holec-Gąsior L. In silico epitope prediction of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato antigens for the detection of specific antibodies. J Immunol Methods 2024; 524:113596. [PMID: 38070727 DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2023.113596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Despite many years of research, serodiagnosis of Lyme disease still faces many obstacles. Difficulties arise mainly due to the low degree of amino acid sequence conservation of the most immunogenic antigens among B. burgdorferi s.l. genospecies, as well as differences in protein production depending on the environment in which the spirochete is located. Mapping B-cell epitopes located on antigens allows for a better understanding of antibody-pathogen interactions which is essential for the development of new and more effective diagnostic tools. In this study, in silico B-cell epitope mapping was performed to determine the theoretical diagnostic potential of selected B. burgdorferi s.l. proteins (BB0108, BB0126, BB0298, BB0689, BB0323, FliL, PstS, SecD, EF-Tu). Bioinformatics software predicted 35 conserved linear and 31 conformational epitopes with the degree of identity among B. burgdorferi s.l. of at least 85%, which may prove to be useful in the development of a new tool for the diagnosis of Lyme disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weronika Grąźlewska
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Karolina Sołowińska
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Lucyna Holec-Gąsior
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gdańsk, Poland.
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Grąźlewska W, Holec-Gąsior L. Antibody Cross-Reactivity in Serodiagnosis of Lyme Disease. Antibodies (Basel) 2023; 12:63. [PMID: 37873860 PMCID: PMC10594444 DOI: 10.3390/antib12040063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Lyme disease is a tick-borne disease caused by spirochetes belonging to the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex. The disease is characterized by a varied course; therefore, the basis for diagnosis is laboratory methods. Currently, a two-tiered serological test is recommended, using an ELISA as a screening test and a Western blot as a confirmatory test. This approach was introduced due to the relatively high number of false-positive results obtained when using an ELISA alone. However, even this approach has not entirely solved the problem of false-positive results caused by cross-reactive antibodies. Many highly immunogenic B. burgdorferi s.l. proteins are recognized nonspecifically by antibodies directed against other pathogens. This also applies to antigens, such as OspC, BmpA, VlsE, and FlaB, i.e., those commonly used in serodiagnostic assays. Cross-reactions can be caused by both bacterial (relapsing fever Borrelia, Treponema pallidum) and viral (Epstein-Baar virus, Cytomegalovirus) infections. Additionally, a rheumatoid factor has also been shown to nonspecifically recognize B. burgdorferi s.l. proteins, resulting in false-positive results. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully interpret the results of serodiagnostic tests so as to avoid overdiagnosis of Lyme disease, which causes unnecessary implementations of strong antibiotic therapies and delays in the correct diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lucyna Holec-Gąsior
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdansk University of Technology, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland;
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Sousa S, Fernandes M, Correia da Costa JM. Serotyping, a challenging approach for Toxoplasma gondii typing. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1111509. [PMID: 37089607 PMCID: PMC10115974 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1111509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Genotype analysis has revealed a high genetic diversity in strains of Toxoplasma gondii, isolated from a wide range of intermediate hosts and different geographic origins. Diversity is notably striking for parasites from wild hosts in South America, generally referred as non-archetypal genotypes. Those genotypes are implicated in the etiology of severe clinical disease, multivisceral toxoplasmosis, associated with high rate of mortality in immunocompetent individuals. Can we accept specific antibodies produced during T. gondii infection as biomarkers to identify infecting genotypes? Scientific evidence supports a positive response to this question; however, the genetic diversity of T. gondii genotypes organized into 16 haplogroups and collectively defined in 6 major clades, provides a reminder of the complexity and difficulty for the purpose. This review discusses serological approaches to genotyping T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Sousa
- Center for the Study of Animal Science (CECA), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Infectious Diseases, R&D Unit, National Health Institute Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Porto, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry (LAQV) of the Network of Chemistry and Technology (REQUIMTE), Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- *Correspondence: Susana Sousa,
| | - Maria Fernandes
- Center for the Study of Animal Science, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - José Manuel Correia da Costa
- Center for the Study of Animal Science (CECA), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Infectious Diseases, R&D Unit, National Health Institute Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Porto, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Zhou J, Chen J, Peng Y, Xie Y, Xiao Y. A Promising Tool in Serological Diagnosis: Current Research Progress of Antigenic Epitopes in Infectious Diseases. Pathogens 2022; 11:1095. [PMID: 36297152 PMCID: PMC9609281 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11101095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Infectious diseases, caused by various pathogens in the clinic, threaten the safety of human life, are harmful to physical and mental health, and also increase economic burdens on society. Infections are a complex mechanism of interaction between pathogenic microorganisms and their host. Identification of the causative agent of the infection is vital for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Etiological laboratory diagnostic tests are therefore essential to identify pathogens. However, due to its rapidity and automation, the serological diagnostic test is among the methods of great significance for the diagnosis of infections with the basis of detecting antigens or antibodies in body fluids clinically. Epitopes, as a special chemical group that determines the specificity of antigens and the basic unit of inducing immune responses, play an important role in the study of immune responses. Identifying the epitopes of a pathogen may contribute to the development of a vaccine to prevent disease, the diagnosis of the corresponding disease, and the determination of different stages of the disease. Moreover, both the preparation of neutralizing antibodies based on useful epitopes and the assembly of several associated epitopes can be used in the treatment of disease. Epitopes can be divided into B cell epitopes and T cell epitopes; B cell epitopes stimulate the body to produce antibodies and are therefore commonly used as targets for the design of serological diagnostic experiments. Meanwhile, epitopes can fall into two possible categories: linear and conformational. This article reviews the role of B cell epitopes in the clinical diagnosis of infectious diseases.
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Vengesai A, Kasambala M, Mutandadzi H, Mduluza-Jokonya TL, Mduluza T, Naicker T. Scoping review of the applications of peptide microarrays on the fight against human infections. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0248666. [PMID: 35077448 PMCID: PMC8789108 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This scoping review explores the use of peptide microarrays in the fight against infectious diseases. The research domains explored included the use of peptide microarrays in the mapping of linear B-cell and T cell epitopes, antimicrobial peptide discovery, immunosignature characterisation and disease immunodiagnostics. This review also provides a short overview of peptide microarray synthesis. METHODS Electronic databases were systematically searched to identify relevant studies. The review was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews and data charting was performed using a predefined form. The results were reported by narrative synthesis in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. RESULTS Ninety-five articles from 103 studies were included in the final data charting process. The majority (92. 0%) of the articles were published during 2010-2020 and were mostly from Europe (44.2%) and North America (34.7%). The findings were from the investigation of viral (45.6%), bacterial (32. 0%), parasitic (23.3%) and fungal (2. 0%) infections. Out of the serological studies, IgG was the most reported antibody type followed by IgM. The largest portion of the studies (77.7%) were related to mapping B-cell linear epitopes, 5.8% were on diagnostics, 5.8% reported on immunosignature characterisation and 8.7% reported on viral and bacterial cell binding assays. Two studies reported on T-cell epitope profiling. CONCLUSION The most important application of peptide microarrays was found to be B-cell epitope mapping or antibody profiling to identify diagnostic and vaccine targets. Immunosignatures identified by random peptide microarrays were found to be applied in the diagnosis of infections and interrogation of vaccine responses. The analysis of the interactions of random peptide microarrays with bacterial and viral cells using binding assays enabled the identification of antimicrobial peptides. Peptide microarray arrays were also used for T-cell linear epitope mapping which may provide more information for the design of peptide-based vaccines and for the development of diagnostic reagents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Vengesai
- Optics & Imaging, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe
| | - Maritha Kasambala
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Hamlet Mutandadzi
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Parirenyatwa Hospital, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | - Tariro L. Mduluza-Jokonya
- Optics & Imaging, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Takafira Mduluza
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe
| | - Thajasvarie Naicker
- Optics & Imaging, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
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Identification of Oocyst-Driven Toxoplasma gondii Infections in Humans and Animals through Stage-Specific Serology-Current Status and Future Perspectives. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9112346. [PMID: 34835471 PMCID: PMC8618849 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9112346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The apicomplexan zoonotic parasite Toxoplasma gondii has three infective stages: sporozoites in sporulated oocysts, which are shed in unsporulated form into the environment by infected felids; tissue cysts containing bradyzoites, and fast replicating tachyzoites that are responsible for acute toxoplasmosis. The contribution of oocysts to infections in both humans and animals is understudied despite being highly relevant. Only a few diagnostic antigens have been described to be capable of discriminating which parasite stage has caused an infection. Here we provide an extensive overview of the antigens and serological assays used to detect oocyst-driven infections in humans and animals according to the literature. In addition, we critically discuss the possibility to exploit the increasing knowledge of the T. gondii genome and the various 'omics datasets available, by applying predictive algorithms, for the identification of new oocyst-specific proteins for diagnostic purposes. Finally, we propose a workflow for how such antigens and assays based on them should be evaluated to ensure reproducible and robust results.
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Arranz-Solís D, Carvalheiro CG, Zhang ER, Grigg ME, Saeij JPJ. Toxoplasma GRA Peptide-Specific Serologic Fingerprints Discriminate Among Major Strains Causing Toxoplasmosis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:621738. [PMID: 33680990 PMCID: PMC7935526 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.621738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The severity of toxoplasmosis depends on a combination of host and parasite factors. Among them, the Toxoplasma strain causing the infection is an important determinant of the disease outcome. Type 2 strains dominate in Europe, whereas in North America type 2, followed by type 3 and 12 strains are commonly isolated from wildlife and patients. To identify the strain type a person is infected with, serological typing provides a promising alternative to the often risky and not always possible biopsy-based DNA methods of genotyping. However, despite recent advances in serotyping, improvements in the sensitivity and specificity are still needed, and it does not yet discriminate among the major Toxoplasma lineages infecting people. Moreover, since infections caused by non-1/2/3 strains have been associated with more severe disease, the ability to identify these is critical. In the present study we investigated the diagnostic potential of an ELISA-based assay using 28 immunogenic Toxoplasma peptides derived from a recent large-scale peptide array screen. Our results show that a discrete number of peptides, derived from Toxoplasma dense granule proteins (GRA3, GRA5, GRA6, and GRA7) was sufficient to discriminate among archetypal strains that infect mice and humans. The assay specifically relies on ratios that compare individual serum reactivities against GRA-specific polymorphic peptide variants in order to determine a "reactivity fingerprint" for each of the major strains. Importantly, nonarchetypal strains that possess a unique combination of alleles, different from types 1/2/3, showed either a non-reactive, or different combinatorial, mixed serum reactivity signature that was diagnostic in its own right, and that can be used to identify these strains. Of note, we identified a distinct "HG11/12" reactivity pattern using the GRA6 peptides that is able to distinguish HG11/12 from archetypal North American/European strain infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Arranz-Solís
- Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology Department, Veterinary Medicine School 3A, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Cristina G. Carvalheiro
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, Molecular Parasitology Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States,Department of Pediatrics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Elizabeth R. Zhang
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, Molecular Parasitology Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Michael E. Grigg
- Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, Molecular Parasitology Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Jeroen P. J. Saeij
- Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology Department, Veterinary Medicine School 3A, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, United States,*Correspondence: Jeroen P. J. Saeij,
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Mévélec MN, Lakhrif Z, Dimier-Poisson I. Key Limitations and New Insights Into the Toxoplasma gondii Parasite Stage Switching for Future Vaccine Development in Human, Livestock, and Cats. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:607198. [PMID: 33324583 PMCID: PMC7724089 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.607198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease affecting human, livestock and cat. Prophylactic strategies would be ideal to prevent infection. In a One Health vaccination approach, the objectives would be the prevention of congenital disease in both women and livestock, prevention/reduction of T. gondii tissue cysts in food-producing animals; and oocyst shedding in cats. Over the last few years, an explosion of strategies for vaccine development, especially due to the development of genetic-engineering technologies has emerged. The field of vaccinology has been exploring safer vaccines by the generation of recombinant immunogenic proteins, naked DNA vaccines, and viral/bacterial recombinants vectors. These strategies based on single- or few antigens, are less efficacious than recombinant live-attenuated, mostly tachyzoite T. gondii vaccine candidates. Reflections on the development of an anti-Toxoplasma vaccine must focus not only on the appropriate route of administration, capable of inducing efficient immune response, but also on the choice of the antigen (s) of interest and the associated delivery systems. To answer these questions, the choice of the animal model is essential. If mice helped in understanding the protection mechanisms, the data obtained cannot be directly transposed to humans, livestock and cats. Moreover, effectiveness vaccines should elicit strong and protective humoral and cellular immune responses at both local and systemic levels against the different stages of the parasite. Finally, challenge protocols should use the oral route, major natural route of infection, either by feeding tissue cysts or oocysts from different T. gondii strains. Effective Toxoplasma vaccines depend on our understanding of the (1) protective host immune response during T. gondii invasion and infection in the different hosts, (2) manipulation and modulation of host immune response to ensure survival of the parasites able to evade and subvert host immunity, (3) molecular mechanisms that define specific stage development. This review presents an overview of the key limitations for the development of an effective vaccine and highlights the contributions made by recent studies on the mechanisms behind stage switching to offer interesting perspectives for vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zineb Lakhrif
- Team BioMAP, Université de Tours, INRAE, ISP, Tours, France
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Heiss K, Heidepriem J, Fischer N, Weber LK, Dahlke C, Jaenisch T, Loeffler FF. Rapid Response to Pandemic Threats: Immunogenic Epitope Detection of Pandemic Pathogens for Diagnostics and Vaccine Development Using Peptide Microarrays. J Proteome Res 2020; 19:4339-4354. [PMID: 32892628 PMCID: PMC7640972 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.0c00484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Emergence and re-emergence of pathogens bearing the risk of becoming a pandemic threat are on the rise. Increased travel and trade, growing population density, changes in urbanization, and climate have a critical impact on infectious disease spread. Currently, the world is confronted with the emergence of a novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, responsible for yet more than 800 000 deaths globally. Outbreaks caused by viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2, HIV, Ebola, influenza, and Zika, have increased over the past decade, underlining the need for a rapid development of diagnostics and vaccines. Hence, the rational identification of biomarkers for diagnostic measures on the one hand, and antigenic targets for vaccine development on the other, are of utmost importance. Peptide microarrays can display large numbers of putative target proteins translated into overlapping linear (and cyclic) peptides for a multiplexed, high-throughput antibody analysis. This enabled for example the identification of discriminant/diagnostic epitopes in Zika or influenza and mapping epitope evolution in natural infections versus vaccinations. In this review, we highlight synthesis platforms that facilitate fast and flexible generation of high-density peptide microarrays. We further outline the multifaceted applications of these peptide array platforms for the development of serological tests and vaccines to quickly encounter pandemic threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten Heiss
- PEPperPRINT
GmbH, Rischerstrasse
12, 69123 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jasmin Heidepriem
- Max
Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Department of Biomolecular Systems, Am Muehlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Nico Fischer
- Section
Clinical Tropical Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, INF 324, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Laura K. Weber
- PEPperPRINT
GmbH, Rischerstrasse
12, 69123 Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute
of Microstructure Technology, Karlsruhe
Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Christine Dahlke
- Division
of Infectious Diseases, First Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
- Department
of Clinical Immunology of Infectious Diseases, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
- German
Center for Infection Research, Partner Site
Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Thomas Jaenisch
- Heidelberg
Institute of Global Health (HIGH), Heidelberg
University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 130, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Center
for Global Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
- Department
of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado 80045, United States
| | - Felix F. Loeffler
- Max
Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Department of Biomolecular Systems, Am Muehlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
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Haji Abdolvahab M, Venselaar H, Fazeli A, Arab SS, Behmanesh M. Point Mutation Approach to Reduce Antigenicity of Interferon Beta. Int J Pept Res Ther 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-019-09938-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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Li R, Ma Y, Li J, Zhou P, Zheng F, Liu Q, Gao W. Application of Toxoplasma gondii GRA15 peptides in diagnosis and serotyping. Microb Pathog 2020; 143:104168. [PMID: 32205209 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2020.104168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies showed that three clonal strain types (I, II, and III) of Toxoplasma gondii can be distinguished using serotyping based on a series of polymorphic proteins. However, to establish a systematic serotyping method with higher resolution even being equal to that of genotyping, more specific peptide markers are needed. The objective of the present study was to determine the possibility of the polymorphic dense granule protein 15 (GRA15) for diagnosis and serotyping of T. gondii infection. Three different T. gondii GT1 strain GRA15 gene fragments encoding a 584-residue peptide, a 199-residue peptide and a 84-residue peptide were amplified, expressed and purified, respectively. Anti-T. gondii GT1 strain antibodies, anti-T. gondii RH strain antibodies and anti-T. gondii PRU strain antibodies were used for immunoblotting analysis of the three peptides. Western blotting analysis showed that the 584-residue peptide of GT1 strain GRA15 was a potential candidate for serological diagnosis of T. gondii infection. RH strain from GT1 strain could be distinguished by serotyping based on the GRA15199 or GRA1584, and T. gondii GT1 strain could be distinguished from PRU strain by using serotyping based on the GRA1584. These findings reveal, for the first time, a novel potential role of GRA15-derived peptides in diagnosis and serological differentiation of T. gondii infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runli Li
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi Province, 030801, PR China
| | - Yeting Ma
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi Province, 030801, PR China
| | - Jin Li
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi Province, 030801, PR China
| | - Penglai Zhou
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi Province, 030801, PR China
| | - Fuguo Zheng
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi Province, 030801, PR China
| | - Qing Liu
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi Province, 030801, PR China.
| | - Wenwei Gao
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi Province, 030801, PR China.
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Javadi Mamaghani A, Fathollahi A, Spotin A, Ranjbar MM, Barati M, Aghamolaie S, Karimi M, Taghipour N, Ashrafi M, Tabaei SJS. Candidate antigenic epitopes for vaccination and diagnosis strategies of Toxoplasma gondii infection: A review. Microb Pathog 2019; 137:103788. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2019.103788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Arranz-Solís D, Cordeiro C, Young LH, Dardé ML, Commodaro AG, Grigg ME, Saeij JPJ. Serotyping of Toxoplasma gondii Infection Using Peptide Membrane Arrays. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:408. [PMID: 31850240 PMCID: PMC6895565 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii can cause chronic infections in most warm-blooded animals, including humans. In the USA, strains belonging to four different Toxoplasma clonal lineages (types 1, 2, 3, and 12) are commonly isolated, whereas strains not belonging to these lineages are predominant in other continents such as South America. Strain type plays a pivotal role in determining the severity of Toxoplasma infection. Therefore, it is epidemiologically relevant to develop a non-invasive and inexpensive method for determining the strain type in Toxoplasma infections and to correlate the genotype with disease outcome. Serological typing is based on the fact that many host antibodies are raised against immunodominant parasite proteins that are highly polymorphic between strains. However, current serological assays can only reliably distinguish type 2 from non-type 2 infections. To improve these assays, mouse, rabbit, and human infection serum were reacted against 950 peptides from 62 different polymorphic Toxoplasma proteins by using cellulose membrane peptide arrays. This allowed us to identify the most antigenic peptides and to pinpoint the most relevant polymorphisms that determine strain specificity. Our results confirm the utility of previously described peptides and identify novel peptides that improve and increase the specificity of the assay. In addition, a large number of novel proteins showed potential to be used for Toxoplasma diagnosis. Among these, peptides derived from several rhoptry, dense granule, and surface proteins represented promising candidates that may be used in future experiments to improve Toxoplasma serotyping. Moreover, a redesigned version of the published GRA7 typing peptide performed better and specifically distinguished type 3 from non-type 3 infections in sera from mice, rabbits, and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Arranz-Solís
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Cynthia Cordeiro
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, United States.,Biology Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Lucy H Young
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Marie Laure Dardé
- Faculty of Medicine, Parasitologie-Mycologie, UMR INSERM 1094, National Reference Center and Biological Resource Center for Toxoplasmosis, CHU Dupuytren 2, Limoges, France
| | - Alessandra G Commodaro
- Molecular Parasitology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Michael E Grigg
- Molecular Parasitology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Jeroen P J Saeij
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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Analysis of Toxoplasma gondii clonal type-specific antibody reactions in experimentally infected turkeys and chickens. Int J Parasitol 2018; 48:845-856. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2018.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Revised: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 04/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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17
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Edmiston E, Jones KL, Vu T, Ashwood P, Van de Water J. Identification of the antigenic epitopes of maternal autoantibodies in autism spectrum disorders. Brain Behav Immun 2018; 69:399-407. [PMID: 29289663 PMCID: PMC5857423 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2017.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2017] [Revised: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 12/27/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Several groups have described the presence of fetal brain-reactive maternal autoantibodies in the plasma of some mothers whose children have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We previously identified seven autoantigens targeted by these maternal autoantibodies, each of which is expressed at significant levels in the developing brain and has demonstrated roles in typical neurodevelopment. To further understand the binding repertoire of the maternal autoantibodies, as well as the presence of any meaningful differences with respect to the recognition and binding of these ASD-specific autoantibodies to each of these neuronal autoantigens, we utilized overlapping peptide microarrays incubated with maternal plasma samples obtained from the Childhood Autism Risk from Genetics and Environment (CHARGE) Study. In an effort to identify the most commonly recognized (immunodominant) epitope sequences targeted by maternal autoantibodies for each of the seven ASD-specific autoantigens, arrays were screened with plasma from mothers with children across diagnostic groups (ASD and typically developing (TD)) that were positive for at least one antigen by western blot (N = 67) or negative control mothers unreactive to any of the autoantigens (N = 18). Of the 63 peptides identified with the discovery microarrays, at least one immunodominant peptide was successfully identified for each of the seven antigenic proteins using subsequent selective screening microarrays. Furthermore, while limited by our relatively small sample size, there were peptides that were distinctly recognized by autoantibodies relative to diagnosis For example, reactivity was observed exclusively in mothers of children of ASD towards several peptides, including the LDH-B peptides DCIIIVVSNPVDILT (9.1% ASD vs. 0% TD; odds ratio (95% CI) = 6.644 (0.355-124.384)) and PVAEEEATVPNNKIT (5.5% ASD vs. 0% TD; odds ratio (95% CI) = 4.067 (0.203-81.403)).These results suggest that there are differences in the binding repertoire between the antigen positive ASD and TD maternal samples. Further, the autoantibodies in plasma from mothers of children with ASD bound to a more diverse set of peptides, and there were specific peptide binding combinations observed only in this group. Future studies are underway to determine the critical amino acids necessary for autoantibody binding, which will be essential in developing a potential therapeutic strategy for maternal autoantibody related (MAR) ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Edmiston
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, One Shields Avenue, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; UC Davis MIND Institute, 2825 50th St, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
| | - Karen L Jones
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, One Shields Avenue, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; UC Davis MIND Institute, 2825 50th St, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
| | - Tam Vu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, One Shields Avenue, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Paul Ashwood
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, One Shields Avenue, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, One Shields Avenue, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
| | - Judy Van de Water
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, One Shields Avenue, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; UC Davis MIND Institute, 2825 50th St, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
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Rostami A, Karanis P, Fallahi S. Advances in serological, imaging techniques and molecular diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection. Infection 2018; 46:303-315. [PMID: 29330674 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-017-1111-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasmosis is worldwide distributed zoonotic infection disease with medical importance in immunocompromised patients, pregnant women and congenitally infected newborns. Having basic information on the traditional and new developed methods is essential for general physicians and infectious disease specialists for choosing a suitable diagnostic approach for rapid and accurate diagnosis of the disease and, consequently, timely and effective treatment. METHODS We conducted English literature searches in PubMed from 1989 to 2016 using relevant keywords and summarized the recent advances in diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. RESULTS Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was most used method in past century. Recently advanced ELISA-based methods including chemiluminescence assays (CLIA), enzyme-linked fluorescence assay (ELFA), immunochromatographic test (ICT), serum IgG avidity test and immunosorbent agglutination assays (ISAGA) have shown high sensitivity and specificity. Recent studies using recombinant or chimeric antigens and multiepitope peptides method demonstrated very promising results to development of new strategies capable of discriminating recently acquired infections from chronic infection. Real-time PCR and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) are two recently developed PCR-based methods with high sensitivity and specificity and could be useful to early diagnosis of infection. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear imaging and ultrasonography could be useful, although their results might be not specific alone. CONCLUSION This review provides a summary of recent developed methods and also attempts to improve their sensitivity for diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. Serology, molecular and imaging technologies each has their own advantages and limitations which can certainly achieve definitive diagnosis of toxoplasmosis by combining these diagnostic techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Rostami
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Panagiotis Karanis
- Qinghai Academy of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Qinghai University, Xining, China
| | - Shirzad Fallahi
- Razi Herbal Medicines Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran. .,Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
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Importance of serological cross-reactivity among Toxoplasma gondii, Hammondia spp., Neospora spp., Sarcocystis spp. and Besnoitia besnoiti. Parasitology 2017; 144:851-868. [PMID: 28241894 PMCID: PMC5471829 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182017000063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora spp., Sarcocystis spp., Hammondia spp. and Besnoitia besnoiti are genetically related cyst-forming coccidia. Serology is frequently used for the identification of T. gondii, Neospora spp. and B. besnoiti-exposed individuals. Serologic cross-reactions occur in different tests among animals infected with T. gondii and H. hammondi, as well as among animals infected by T. gondii and N. caninum. Infections caused by N. caninum and N. hughesi are almost indistinguishable by serology. Neospora caninum, B. besnoiti and Sarcocystis spp. infections in cattle show some degree of serologic cross-reactivity. Antibody cross-reactivity between Neospora spp. and H. heydorni-infected animals is suspected, but not proven to occur. We review serologic cross-reactivity among animals and/or humans infected with T. gondii, Neospora spp., Sarcocystis spp., Hammondia spp. and B. besnoiti. Emphasis is laid upon antigens and serological methods for N. caninum diagnosis which were tested for cross-reactivity with related protozoa. Species-specific antigens, as well as stage-specific proteins have been identified in some of these parasites and have promising use for diagnosis and epidemiological surveys.
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20
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Kassegne K, Abe EM, Chen JH, Zhou XN. Immunomic approaches for antigen discovery of human parasites. Expert Rev Proteomics 2016; 13:1091-1101. [DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2016.1252675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kokouvi Kassegne
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of the Chinese Ministry of Health, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Eniola Michael Abe
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of the Chinese Ministry of Health, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jun-Hu Chen
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of the Chinese Ministry of Health, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Nong Zhou
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology of the Chinese Ministry of Health, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
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21
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Costa JG, Duré AB. Immunochemical evaluation of two Toxoplasma gondii GRA8 sequences to detect acute toxoplasmosis infection. Microb Pathog 2016; 100:229-236. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2016.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2016] [Revised: 08/19/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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22
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Wang Y, Wang G, Cai JP. Identifying Novel B Cell Epitopes within Toxoplasma gondii GRA6. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY 2016; 54:431-7. [PMID: 27658594 PMCID: PMC5040083 DOI: 10.3347/kjp.2016.54.4.431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2015] [Revised: 10/21/2015] [Accepted: 11/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The study of antigenic epitopes from Toxoplasma gondii has not only enhanced our understanding of the structure and function of antigens, the reactions between antigens and antibodies, and many other aspects of immunology, but it also plays a significant role in the development of new diagnostic reagents and vaccines. In the present study, T. gondii GRA6 epitopes were identified using bioinformatics tools and a synthetic peptide technique. The potential B cell epitopes of GRA6 predicted by bioinformatics tools concentrated upon 3 regions of GRA6, 1-20 aa, 44-103 aa, and 172-221 aa. Ten shorter peptides from the 3 regions were synthesized and assessed by ELISA using pig sera from different time points after infection. Three of the 10 peptides (amino acids 44-63, 172-191, and 192-211) tested were recognized by all sera and determined to be immunodominant B-cell epitopes of GRA6. The results indicated that we precisely and accurately located the T. gondii GRA6 epitopes using pig sera collected at different time points after infection. The identified epitopes may be very useful for further studies of epitope-based vaccines and diagnostic reagents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhua Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Guangxiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
| | - Jian Ping Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730046, China
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Wang X, Sun Q, Ye Z, Hua Y, Shao N, Du Y, Zhang Q, Wan C. Computational approach for predicting the conserved B-cell epitopes of hemagglutinin H7 subtype influenza virus. Exp Ther Med 2016; 12:2439-2446. [PMID: 27703505 PMCID: PMC5038878 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2016.3636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2015] [Accepted: 05/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
An avian-origin influenza H7N9 virus epidemic occurred in China in 2013–2014, in which >422 infected people suffered from pneumonia, respiratory distress syndrome and septic shock. H7N9 viruses belong to the H7 subtype of avian-origin influenza viruses (AIV-H7). Hemagglutinin (HA) is a vital membrane protein of AIV that has an important role in host recognition and infection. The epitopes of HA are significant determinants of the regularity of epidemic and viral mutation and recombination mechanisms. The present study aimed to predict the conserved B-cell epitopes of AIV-H7 HA using a bioinformatics approach, including the three most effective epitope prediction softwares available online: Artificial Neural Network based B-cell Epitope Prediction (ABCpred), B-cell Epitope Prediction (BepiPred) and Linear B-cell Epitope Prediction (LBtope). A total of 24 strains of Euro-Asiatic AIV-H7 that had been associated with a serious poultry pandemic or had infected humans in the past 30 years were selected to identify the conserved regions of HA. Sequences were obtained from the National Center for Biotechnology Information and Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data databases. Using a combination of software prediction and sequence comparisons, the conserved epitopes of AIV-H7 were predicted and clarified. A total of five conserved epitopes [amino acids (aa) 37–52, 131–142, 215–234, 465–484 and 487–505] with a suitable length, high antigenicity and minimal variation were predicted and confirmed. Each obtained a score of >0.80 in ABCpred, 60% in LBtope and a level of 0.35 in Bepipred. In addition, a representative amino acid change (glutamine235-to-leucine235) in the HA protein of the 2013 AIV-H7N9 was discovered. The strategy adopted in the present study may have profound implications on the rapid diagnosis and control of infectious disease caused by H7N9 viruses, as well as by other virulent viruses, such as the Ebola virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China
| | - Qi Sun
- Department of Microbiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China
| | - Zhonghua Ye
- Department of Microbiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China
| | - Ying Hua
- Department of Microbiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China
| | - Na Shao
- Department of Microbiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China
| | - Yanli Du
- Department of Microbiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China
| | - Qiwei Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China
| | - Chengsong Wan
- Department of Microbiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, P.R. China
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Ahmad TA, Eweida AE, Sheweita SA. B-cell epitope mapping for the design of vaccines and effective diagnostics. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trivac.2016.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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25
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Review on the identification and role of Toxoplasma gondii antigenic epitopes. Parasitol Res 2015; 115:459-68. [PMID: 26581372 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4824-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2015] [Accepted: 11/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite with a broad range of hosts, and it causes severe toxoplasmasis in both humans and animals. It is well known that the progression and severity of a disease depend on the immunological status of the host. Immunological studies on antigens indicate that antigens do not exert their functions through the entire protein molecule, but instead, specific epitopes are responsible for the immune response. Protein antigens not only contain epitope structures used by B, T, cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL), and NK cells to mediate immunological responses but can also contain structures that are unfavorable for protective immunity. Therefore, the study of antigenic epitopes from T. gondii has not only enhanced our understanding of the structure and function of antigens, the reactions between antigens and antibodies, and many other aspects of immunology but it also plays a significant role in the development of new diagnostic reagents and vaccines. In this review, we summarized the immune mechanisms induced by antigen epitopes and the latest advances in identifying T. gondii antigen epitopes. Particular attention was paid to the potential clinical usefulness of epitopes in this context. Through a critical analysis of the current state of knowledge, we elucidated the latest data concerning the biological effects of epitopes and the immune results aimed at the development of future epitope-based applications, such as vaccines and diagnostic reagents.
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26
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Furman D, Davis MM. New approaches to understanding the immune response to vaccination and infection. Vaccine 2015; 33:5271-81. [PMID: 26232539 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.06.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2015] [Revised: 04/26/2015] [Accepted: 06/29/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The immune system is a network of specialized cell types and tissues that communicates via cytokines and direct contact, to orchestrate specific types of defensive responses. Until recently, we could only study immune responses in a piecemeal, highly focused fashion, on major components like antibodies to the pathogen. But recent advances in technology and in our understanding of the many components of the system, innate and adaptive, have made possible a broader approach, where both the multiple responding cells and cytokines in the blood are measured. This systems immunology approach to a vaccine response or an infection gives us a more holistic picture of the different parts of the immune system that are mobilized and should allow us a much better understanding of the pathways and mechanisms of such responses, as well as to predict vaccine efficacy in different populations well in advance of efficacy studies. Here we summarize the different technologies and methods and discuss how they can inform us about the differences between diseases and vaccines, and how they can greatly accelerate vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Furman
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Mark M Davis
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States.
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Wang Y, Yin H. Research advances in microneme protein 3 of Toxoplasma gondii. Parasit Vectors 2015; 8:384. [PMID: 26194005 PMCID: PMC4509771 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-1001-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2015] [Accepted: 07/09/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite. It has extensive host populations and is prevalent globally; T. gondii infection can cause a zoonotic parasitic disease. Microneme protein 3 (MIC3) is a secreted protein that is expressed in all stages of the T. gondii life cycle. It has strong immunoreactivity and plays an important role in the recognition, adhesion and invasion of host cells by T. gondii. This article reviews the molecular structure of MIC3, its role in the invasion of host cells by parasites, its relationship with parasite virulence, and its induction of immune protection to lay a solid foundation for an in-depth study of potential diagnostic agents and vaccines for preventing toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhua Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730046, China.
| | - Hong Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, 730046, China.
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28
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Pleyer U, Schlüter D, Mänz M. Ocular toxoplasmosis: recent aspects of pathophysiology and clinical implications. Ophthalmic Res 2014; 52:116-23. [PMID: 25248050 DOI: 10.1159/000363141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an extremely successful opportunistic parasite which infects approximately one third of the human population worldwide. The impact of this parasite on human health becomes particularly manifest in congenital damage with infection and subsequent inflammation of neuronal tissues including the retina. Although advances in our understanding could be achieved in ocular toxoplasmosis, large gaps still exist on factors influencing the epidemiology and pathophysiology of this potentially blinding disease. We are only at the beginning of understanding the complex biology of this parasite and its mechanisms of invasion, virulence and interaction with the host's immune response. Since it is a preventable cause of blindness, it is necessary to assess factors that have the potential to control this disease in the future. This mini review will focus on recent advances in postnatal acquired ocular infection and the factors that may influence its prevalence and functional outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uwe Pleyer
- Eye Clinic, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Schlüter D, Däubener W, Schares G, Groß U, Pleyer U, Lüder C. Animals are key to human toxoplasmosis. Int J Med Microbiol 2014; 304:917-29. [PMID: 25240467 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2014.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is an extremely sucessfull protozoal parasite which infects almost all mamalian species including humans. Approximately 30% of the human population worldwide is chronically infected with T. gondii. In general, human infection is asymptomatic but the parasite may induce severe disease in fetuses and immunocompromised patients. In addition, T. gondii may cause sight-threatening posterior uveitis in immunocompetent patients. Apart from few exceptions, humans acquire T. gondii from animals. Both, the oral uptake of T. gondii oocysts released by specific hosts, i.e. felidae, and of cysts persisting in muscle cells of animals result in human toxoplasmosis. In the present review, we discuss recent new data on the cell biology of T. gondii and parasite diversity in animals. In addition, we focus on the impact of these various parasite strains and their different virulence on the clinical outcome of human congenital toxoplasmosis and T. gondii uveitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Schlüter
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Infection Control and Prevention, Otto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg, Germany; Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany.
| | - Walter Däubener
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Gereon Schares
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Uwe Groß
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Uwe Pleyer
- Eye Clinic, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Carsten Lüder
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
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Sarkar T, Das S, Nandy P, Bhowmick R, Nandy A. In silico study of potential autoimmune threats from rotavirus infection. Comput Biol Chem 2014; 51:51-6. [PMID: 24929545 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2014.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2013] [Revised: 05/17/2014] [Accepted: 05/27/2014] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Rotavirus, the major cause of infantile nonbacterial diarrhea, was found to be associated with development of diabetes-associated auto-antibodies. In our study we tried to find out further potential autoimmune threats of this virus using bioinformatics approach. We took rotaviral proteins to study similarity with Homo sapiens proteome and found most conserved structural protein VP6 matches at two regions with ryanodine receptor, an autoimmune target associated with myasthenia gravis. Myasthenia gravis, a chronic neurodegenerative autoimmune disorder with no typical known reason, is characterized by fluctuating muscle weakness which is typically enhanced during muscular effort. Affected patients generate auto antibodies against mainly acetyl choline receptor and sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium-release channel protein ryanodine receptor. Further, we observed that two regions which matched with ryanodine receptor remain conserved in all circulating rotaviral strains and showed significant antigenecity with respect to myasthenia gravis associated HLA haplotypes. Overall, our study detected rotaviral VP6 as a potential threat for myasthenia gravis and enlighten an area of virus associated autoimmune research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tapati Sarkar
- Department of Physics, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700 032, India.
| | - Sukhen Das
- Department of Physics, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700 032, India
| | - Papiya Nandy
- Department of Physics, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700 032, India
| | - Rahul Bhowmick
- Department of Virology, National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata 700010, India
| | - Ashesh Nandy
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research and Education, Kolkata 700032, India
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Ocular toxoplasmosis past, present and new aspects of an old disease. Prog Retin Eye Res 2014; 39:77-106. [DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2013.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2013] [Revised: 12/19/2013] [Accepted: 12/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Brakha C, Arvers P, Villiers F, Marlu A, Buhot A, Livache T, Calemczuk R, Zarski JP, Villiers CL, Marche PN, Villiers MB. Relationship between humoral response against hepatitis C virus and disease overcome. SPRINGERPLUS 2014; 3:56. [PMID: 24516785 PMCID: PMC3915053 DOI: 10.1186/2193-1801-3-56] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2013] [Accepted: 12/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Hepatitis C virus infection leads to liver disease whose severity can range from mild to serious lifelong illness. However the parameters involved in the evolution of the disease are still unknown. Among other factors, the virus-elicited antibody profile is suspected to play a role in the outcome of the disease. Analysis of the relationship between anti-virus antibodies and disease state requires the analysis of a large number of serums from patients (hepatitis C virus+) and of epitopes from the viral proteins. Such a study would benefit from microarray-based screening systems that are appropriate for high-throughput assays. We used a method combining peptide chips and surface plasmon resonance imaging previously shown to be suitable for analyzing complex mediums and detecting peptide-protein interactions. 56 peptides covering the entire viral proteome were grafted on chips and their interaction with antibodies present in the 68 injected serums from infected and non-infected donors was measured. Statistical analyses were conducted to determine a possible relationship between antibodies (specificity and amount) and disease states. A good discrimination between infected and non-infected donors validated our approach, and several correlations between antibodies profiles and clinical parameters have been identified. In particular, we demonstrated that ratios between particular antibodies levels allow for accurate discrimination of patients according to their pathologic states. Conclusion Humoral response against hepatitis C virus linear epitopes is partly modified according to the disease state. This study highlights the importance of considering relative quantities of antibodies with different specificities rather than the amount of each antibody. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi: 10.1186/2193-1801-3-56) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carine Brakha
- INSERM, U823, Institut A. Bonniot, BP 170 Cedex 9, F-38042 Grenoble, France ; Université J. Fourier, UMR-823, F-38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Philippe Arvers
- HIA Desgenettes, 108 Bd Pinel Cedex 03, Lyon, F-69275 France
| | - Florent Villiers
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 USA
| | - Alice Marlu
- Pôle Digidune, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Grenoble, La Tronche, F-38700 France
| | - Arnaud Buhot
- INAC, SPrAM (UMR 5819, CEA, CNRS, UJF), INAC/CEA Cedex 09, Grenoble, F-38054 France
| | - Thierry Livache
- INAC, SPrAM (UMR 5819, CEA, CNRS, UJF), INAC/CEA Cedex 09, Grenoble, F-38054 France
| | - Roberto Calemczuk
- INAC, SPrAM (UMR 5819, CEA, CNRS, UJF), INAC/CEA Cedex 09, Grenoble, F-38054 France
| | - Jean-Pierre Zarski
- Pôle Digidune, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Grenoble, La Tronche, F-38700 France
| | - Christian L Villiers
- INSERM, U823, Institut A. Bonniot, BP 170 Cedex 9, F-38042 Grenoble, France ; Université J. Fourier, UMR-823, F-38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Patrice N Marche
- INSERM, U823, Institut A. Bonniot, BP 170 Cedex 9, F-38042 Grenoble, France ; Université J. Fourier, UMR-823, F-38042 Grenoble, France
| | - Marie-Bernadette Villiers
- INSERM, U823, Institut A. Bonniot, BP 170 Cedex 9, F-38042 Grenoble, France ; Université J. Fourier, UMR-823, F-38042 Grenoble, France
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Maksimov P, Zerweck J, Dubey JP, Pantchev N, Frey CF, Maksimov A, Reimer U, Schutkowski M, Hosseininejad M, Ziller M, Conraths FJ, Schares G. Serotyping of Toxoplasma gondii in cats (Felis domesticus) reveals predominance of type II infections in Germany. PLoS One 2013; 8:e80213. [PMID: 24244652 PMCID: PMC3820565 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2013] [Accepted: 10/01/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cats are definitive hosts of Toxoplasma gondii and play an essential role in the epidemiology of this parasite. The study aims at clarifying whether cats are able to develop specific antibodies against different clonal types of T. gondii and to determine by serotyping the T. gondii clonal types prevailing in cats as intermediate hosts in Germany. Methodology To establish a peptide-microarray serotyping test, we identified 24 suitable peptides using serological T. gondii positive (n=21) and negative cat sera (n=52). To determine the clonal type-specific antibody response of cats in Germany, 86 field sera from T. gondii seropositive naturally infected cats were tested. In addition, we analyzed the antibody response in cats experimentally infected with non-canonical T. gondii types (n=7). Findings Positive cat reference sera reacted predominantly with peptides harbouring amino acid sequences specific for the clonal T. gondii type the cats were infected with. When the array was applied to field sera from Germany, 98.8% (85/86) of naturally-infected cats recognized similar peptide patterns as T. gondii type II reference sera and showed the strongest reaction intensities with clonal type II-specific peptides. In addition, naturally infected cats recognized type II-specific peptides significantly more frequently than peptides of other type-specificities. Cats infected with non-canonical types showed the strongest reactivity with peptides presenting amino-acid sequences specific for both, type I and type III. Conclusions Cats are able to mount a clonal type-specific antibody response against T. gondii. Serotyping revealed for most seropositive field sera patterns resembling those observed after clonal type II-T. gondii infection. This finding is in accord with our previous results on the occurrence of T. gondii clonal types in oocysts shed by cats in Germany.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavlo Maksimov
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
- * E-mail: (PM); (GS)
| | | | - Jitender P. Dubey
- Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, USDA, ARS, ANRI, BARC-East, Beltsville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Nikola Pantchev
- Vet Med Labor GmbH, Division of IDEXX Laboratories, Ludwigsburg, Germany
| | - Caroline F. Frey
- Institute of Parasitology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Aline Maksimov
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Ulf Reimer
- JPT, Peptide Technologies GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mike Schutkowski
- Institute for Biochemistry & Biotechnology, Department of Enzymology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | | | - Mario Ziller
- Workgroup Biomathematics, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Franz J. Conraths
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Gereon Schares
- Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany
- * E-mail: (PM); (GS)
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Goodswen SJ, Kennedy PJ, Ellis JT. A novel strategy for classifying the output from an in silico vaccine discovery pipeline for eukaryotic pathogens using machine learning algorithms. BMC Bioinformatics 2013; 14:315. [PMID: 24180526 PMCID: PMC3826511 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2105-14-315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2013] [Accepted: 10/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND An in silico vaccine discovery pipeline for eukaryotic pathogens typically consists of several computational tools to predict protein characteristics. The aim of the in silico approach to discovering subunit vaccines is to use predicted characteristics to identify proteins which are worthy of laboratory investigation. A major challenge is that these predictions are inherent with hidden inaccuracies and contradictions. This study focuses on how to reduce the number of false candidates using machine learning algorithms rather than relying on expensive laboratory validation. Proteins from Toxoplasma gondii, Plasmodium sp., and Caenorhabditis elegans were used as training and test datasets. RESULTS The results show that machine learning algorithms can effectively distinguish expected true from expected false vaccine candidates (with an average sensitivity and specificity of 0.97 and 0.98 respectively), for proteins observed to induce immune responses experimentally. CONCLUSIONS Vaccine candidates from an in silico approach can only be truly validated in a laboratory. Given any in silico output and appropriate training data, the number of false candidates allocated for validation can be dramatically reduced using a pool of machine learning algorithms. This will ultimately save time and money in the laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - John T Ellis
- School of Medical and Molecular Biosciences, ithree institute at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Sydney, Australia.
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Cao L, Cheng R, Yao L, Yuan S, Yao X. Establishment and application of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification method for simple, specific, sensitive and rapid detection of Toxoplasma gondii. J Vet Med Sci 2013; 76:9-14. [PMID: 23965849 PMCID: PMC3979957 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.13-0275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method amplifies DNA with
high simply, specificity, sensitivity and rapidity. In this study, A LAMP assay with 6
primers targeting a highly conserved region of the GRA1 gene was developed to diagnose
Toxoplasma gondii. The reaction time of the LAMP assay was shortened to
30 min after optimizing the reaction system. The LAMP assay was found to be highly
specific and stable. The detection limit of the LAMP assay was 10 copies, the same as that
of the conventional PCR. We used the LAMP assay to develop a real-time fluorogenic
protocol to quantitate T. gondii DNA and generated a log-linear
regression plot by plotting the time-to-threshold values against genomic equivalent
copies. Furthermore, the LAMP assay was applied to detect T. gondii DNA
in 423 blood samples and 380 lymph node samples from 10 pig farms, and positive results
were obtained for 7.8% and 8.2% of samples, respectively. The results showed that the LAMP
method is slightly more sensitive than conventional PCR (6.1% and 7.6%). Positive samples
obtained from 6 pig farms. The LAMP assay established in this study resulted in simple,
specific, sensitive and rapid detection of T. gondii DNA and is expected
to play an important role in clinical detection of T. gondii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Cao
- Jilin Academy of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Changchun, Jilin 130062, China
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Toxoplasma gondii recombinant antigens as tools for serodiagnosis of human toxoplasmosis: current status of studies. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2013; 20:1343-51. [PMID: 23784855 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00117-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a parasitic protozoan which is the cause of toxoplasmosis. Although human toxoplasmosis in healthy adults is usually asymptomatic, serious disease can occur in the case of congenital infections and immunocompromised individuals. Furthermore, despite the exact recognition of its etiology, it still presents a diagnostic problem. Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is mainly based on the results of serological tests detecting anti-T. gondii-specific antibodies in the patient's serum sample. The specificities and sensitivities of serology tests depend mostly on the diagnostic antigen(s) used. Most of the commercial serological kits currently available are based on Toxoplasma lysate antigens (TLAs). In recent years, many studies showed that recombinant antigenic proteins of T. gondii may be an alternative source of antigens which are very useful for the serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis. This article presents a review of current studies on the application and usefulness of different T. gondii recombinant antigens in serological tests for the diagnosis of human toxoplasmosis.
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Diagnostic peptide discovery: prioritization of pathogen diagnostic markers using multiple features. PLoS One 2012; 7:e50748. [PMID: 23272069 PMCID: PMC3522711 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2012] [Accepted: 10/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The availability of complete pathogen genomes has renewed interest in the development of diagnostics for infectious diseases. Synthetic peptide microarrays provide a rapid, high-throughput platform for immunological testing of potential B-cell epitopes. However, their current capacity prevent the experimental screening of complete “peptidomes”. Therefore, computational approaches for prediction and/or prioritization of diagnostically relevant peptides are required. In this work we describe a computational method to assess a defined set of molecular properties for each potential diagnostic target in a reference genome. Properties such as sub-cellular localization or expression level were evaluated for the whole protein. At a higher resolution (short peptides), we assessed a set of local properties, such as repetitive motifs, disorder (structured vs natively unstructured regions), trans-membrane spans, genetic polymorphisms (conserved vs. divergent regions), predicted B-cell epitopes, and sequence similarity against human proteins and other potential cross-reacting species (e.g. other pathogens endemic in overlapping geographical locations). A scoring function based on these different features was developed, and used to rank all peptides from a large eukaryotic pathogen proteome. We applied this method to the identification of candidate diagnostic peptides in the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. We measured the performance of the method by analyzing the enrichment of validated antigens in the high-scoring top of the ranking. Based on this measure, our integrative method outperformed alternative prioritizations based on individual properties (such as B-cell epitope predictors alone). Using this method we ranked 10 million 12-mer overlapping peptides derived from the complete T. cruzi proteome. Experimental screening of 190 high-scoring peptides allowed the identification of 37 novel epitopes with diagnostic potential, while none of the low scoring peptides showed significant reactivity. Many of the metrics employed are dependent on standard bioinformatic tools and data, so the method can be easily extended to other pathogen genomes.
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