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Salazar JC, Vargas-Cely F, García-Luna JA, Ramirez LG, Bettin EB, Romero-Rosas N, Amórtegui MF, Silva S, Oviedo O, Vigil J, La Vake CJ, Galindo X, Ramirez JD, Martínez-Valencia AJ, Caimano MJ, Hennelly CM, Aghakhanian F, Moody MA, Seña AC, Parr JB, Hawley KL, López-Medina E, Radolf JD. Treponema pallidum genetic diversity and its implications for targeted vaccine development: A cross-sectional study of early syphilis cases in Southwestern Colombia. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0307600. [PMID: 39028747 PMCID: PMC11259262 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0307600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Venereal syphilis, caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (TPA), is surging worldwide, underscoring the need for a vaccine with global efficacy. Vaccine development requires an understanding of syphilis epidemiology and clinical presentation as well as genomic characterization of TPA strains circulating within at-risk populations. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical, demographic, and molecular features of early syphilis cases in Cali, Colombia. METHODS AND FINDINGS We conducted a cross-sectional study to identify individuals with early syphilis (ES) in Cali, Colombia through a city-wide network of public health centers, private sector HIV clinics and laboratory databases from public health institutions. Whole blood (WB), skin biopsies (SB), and genital and oral lesion swabs were obtained for measurement of treponemal burdens by polA quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and for whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Among 1,966 individuals screened, 128 participants met enrollment criteria: 112 (87%) with secondary (SS), 15 (12%) with primary (PS) and one with early latent syphilis; 66/128 (52%) self-reported as heterosexual, while 48 (38%) were men who have sex with men (MSM). Genital ulcer swabs had the highest polA copy numbers (67 copies/μl) by qPCR with a positivity rate (PR) of 73%, while SS lesions had 42 polA copies/μl with PR of 62%. WB polA positivity was more frequent in SS than PS (42% vs 7%, respectively; p = 0.009). Isolation of TPA from WB by rabbit infectivity testing (RIT) was achieved in 5 (56%) of 9 ES WB samples tested. WGS from 33 Cali patient samples, along with 10 other genomic sequences from South America (9 from Peru, 1 from Argentina) used as comparators, confirmed that SS14 was the predominant clade, and that half of all samples had mutations associated with macrolide (i.e., azithromycin) resistance. Variability in the outer membrane protein (OMP) and vaccine candidate BamA (TP0326) was mapped onto the protein's predicted structure from AlphaFold. Despite the presence of mutations in several extracellular loops (ECLs), ECL4, an immunodominant loop and proven opsonic target, was highly conserved in this group of Colombian and South American TPA isolates. CONCLUSIONS This study offers new insights into the sociodemographic and clinical features of venereal syphilis in a highly endemic area of Colombia and illustrates how genomic sequencing of regionally prevalent TPA strains can inform vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan C. Salazar
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, United States of America
- Department of Immunology, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Connecticut Children’s, Hartford, CT, United States of America
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM), Cali, Colombia
| | - Fabio Vargas-Cely
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM), Cali, Colombia
| | - Jonny A. García-Luna
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM), Cali, Colombia
- Universidad ICESI, Cali, Colombia
- Division of Dermatology, School of Medicine, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | - Lady G. Ramirez
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM), Cali, Colombia
- Universidad ICESI, Cali, Colombia
| | - Everton B. Bettin
- Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, United States of America
| | - Nelson Romero-Rosas
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM), Cali, Colombia
| | - María F. Amórtegui
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM), Cali, Colombia
| | - Sebastián Silva
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM), Cali, Colombia
| | - Oscar Oviedo
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM), Cali, Colombia
| | - Julie Vigil
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, United States of America
| | - Carson J. La Vake
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, United States of America
| | | | - Jose D. Ramirez
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM), Cali, Colombia
| | - Alvaro J. Martínez-Valencia
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM), Cali, Colombia
- Universidad ICESI, Cali, Colombia
| | - Melissa J. Caimano
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, United States of America
| | - Christopher M. Hennelly
- Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Farhang Aghakhanian
- Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - M. Anthony Moody
- Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, NC, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
- Department of Integrative Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Arlene C. Seña
- Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Jonathan B. Parr
- Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Kelly L. Hawley
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, United States of America
- Department of Immunology, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Connecticut Children’s, Hartford, CT, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, United States of America
| | - Eduardo López-Medina
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM), Cali, Colombia
- Centro de Estudios en Infectología Pediátrica (CEIP), Cali, Colombia
| | - Justin D. Radolf
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, United States of America
- Department of Immunology, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, United States of America
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM), Cali, Colombia
- Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, United States of America
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, United States of America
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Eguiluz M, Qquellon J, Vargas SK, Reyes-Diaz M, Konda KA, Caceres CF, Klausner JD. Molecular Characterization of Genital and Extragenital Lesions With the PlexPCR VHS Assay in Patients Diagnosed With Syphilis. Open Forum Infect Dis 2023; 10:ofad483. [PMID: 37869408 PMCID: PMC10588620 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofad483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Syphilis diagnosis relies on immunologic markers and clinical protocols. However, syphilitic lesions can be confused with other genital ulcer diseases. Methods Using a PlexPCR VHS assay, we analyzed lesion DNA samples from 87 individuals who were clinically diagnosed with early syphilis infection and had at least 1 positive serologic test result. DNA was detected by the PlexPCR VHS multiplex assay and β-globin genes. Results Among the participants, 99% (86/87) had a positive rapid treponemal test result. DNA was successfully detected in 91% (79/87) of the lesion samples. PlexPCR VHS identified 5 herpes simplex virus (HSV)/Treponema pallidum coinfections (2 HSV-1 and 3 HSV-2), only T pallidum DNA in 62% (49/79), and only HSV-2 in 12.7% (10/79). While 19% (15/79) were negative for all pathogens, none were varicella zoster virus positive. The PlexPCR VHS had 68.4% agreement with the clinical diagnosis. Conclusions Since the PlexPCR VHS detects multiple organisms simultaneously, it can help to confirm actual syphilis and identify other pathogen coinfections or the pathogen causing the ulcer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Eguiluz
- Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Sexuality, AIDS and Society, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Jazmin Qquellon
- Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Sexuality, AIDS and Society, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Silver K Vargas
- Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Sexuality, AIDS and Society, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- School of Public Health and Administration, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Michael Reyes-Diaz
- Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Sexuality, AIDS and Society, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Kelika A Konda
- Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Sexuality, AIDS and Society, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Carlos F Caceres
- Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in Sexuality, AIDS and Society, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Jeffrey D Klausner
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Ramchandani MS, Cannon CA, Marra CM. Syphilis. Infect Dis Clin North Am 2023; 37:195-222. [PMID: 37005164 DOI: 10.1016/j.idc.2023.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Syphilis is an important public health problem in the U.S. and many high-income nations. The rates of syphilis continue to increase and there is an urgent need for medical providers of a variety of backgrounds to recognize this disease. In this review, we cover the key clinical findings of syphilis and provide an overview of the diagnosis and management of this disease in adults.
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Salle R, Mayslich C, Grange PA, Leducq V, Ollagnier G, Heller U, Saule J, Martinet P, Robert JL, Benhaddou N, Fouere S, Dupin N. Specific detection of Treponema pallidum in clinical samples: validation of a qPCR assay combining two genomic targets. Sex Transm Infect 2023; 99:91-96. [PMID: 35459752 DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2021-055364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We evaluated a real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) for detection of the Treponema pallidum (TP) genome in clinical samples through simultaneous detection of two genomic targets. METHODS We performed qPCR with TaqMan technology using two TP genes, polA and tpp47, as targets, with an internal positive control. The qPCR assay was compared with syphilis diagnosis based on a combination of clinical examination, serological results and inhouse nested PCR (nPCR). Samples were analysed at the National Reference Center for STIs at Cochin Hospital in Paris. RESULTS In total, from October 2010 to December 2016, 320 documented clinical samples (mucosal and cutaneous swabs) were collected from patients with or without syphilis attending STI centres in France. The qPCR had an overall sensitivity of 89% (95% CI 85.1% to 92.1%), a specificity of 100%, a positive predictive value of 100% and a negative predictive value of 88% (95% CI 84.3% to 91.5%). The agreement between qPCR and nPCR results was 94% (κ=0.88, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.93). Calibration of the qPCR assay, by cloning both the polA and tpp47 genes, defined the detection threshold as 1 copy/µL of DNA elution. CONCLUSIONS We validated a new qPCR for detecting the TP genome in clinical samples with excellent sensitivity and specificity. The cloning of polA and tpp47 genes for calibration would be interesting in the evaluation of bacterial loads in samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Salle
- INSERM, Institut Cochin U1016-CNRS UMR8104, Équipe Biologie Cutané, Université de Paris, Paris, France.,Service de Dermatologie-Vénéréologie et CeGIDD, Hôpital Cochin, APHP, CNR IST Bactériennes - Expertise Syphilis, Paris, France
| | - Constance Mayslich
- INSERM, Institut Cochin U1016-CNRS UMR8104, Équipe Biologie Cutané, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Philippe Alain Grange
- INSERM, Institut Cochin U1016-CNRS UMR8104, Équipe Biologie Cutané, Université de Paris, Paris, France.,Service de Dermatologie-Vénéréologie et CeGIDD, Hôpital Cochin, APHP, CNR IST Bactériennes - Expertise Syphilis, Paris, France
| | - Valentin Leducq
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique (iPLESP), AP-HP, Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, Department of Virology, F-75013, Paris, France
| | - Guillaume Ollagnier
- INSERM, Institut Cochin U1016-CNRS UMR8104, Équipe Biologie Cutané, Université de Paris, Paris, France.,Service de Dermatologie-Vénéréologie et CeGIDD, Hôpital Cochin, APHP, CNR IST Bactériennes - Expertise Syphilis, Paris, France
| | - Ugo Heller
- Service de Chirurgie Maxillo-Faciale, Hôpital Beaujon, APHP, Clichy, France
| | - Julie Saule
- CeGIDD-Conseil Départemental 13 Joliette, Marseille, France
| | - Pervenche Martinet
- CeGIDD-Conseil Départemental 13 Joliette; CeGIDD-Conseil Départemental 13 Saint Adrien, Marseille, France
| | - Jean-Luc Robert
- CeGIDD-Conseil Départemental 13 d'Aix, Aix-en-Provence, France
| | - Nadjet Benhaddou
- Service de Bactériologie, APHP, CNR Streptocoques, Paris, France
| | - Sebastien Fouere
- Groupe Hospitalier Saint-Louis, Lariboisière, Fernand-Widal, CeGIDD, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Dupin
- INSERM, Institut Cochin U1016-CNRS UMR8104, Équipe Biologie Cutané, Université de Paris, Paris, France .,Service de Dermatologie-Vénéréologie et CeGIDD, Hôpital Cochin, APHP, CNR IST Bactériennes - Expertise Syphilis, Paris, France
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Woodson EN, Katz SS, Mosley SS, Danavall DC, Bowden KE, Chi KH, Raphael BH. Use of real-time PCR as an alternative to conventional genotyping methods for the laboratory detection of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV). Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2021; 101:115532. [PMID: 34571353 DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2021.115532] [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: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) can be differentiated from non-LGV chlamydial infection using Sanger sequencing or molecular assays, including those that are commercially-available internationally. Here, we describe the performance of a rapid real-time PCR (RT-PCR)-based strategy in differentiating Chlamydia trachomatis infections associated with LGV or non-LGV serovars. One hundred three rectal swabs, previously genotyped using Sanger sequencing of the ompA gene as a reference method, were tested in the RT-PCR assays. All non-LGV specimens were correctly identified, but the RT-PCR failed to detect 1 LGV specimen, resulting in a sensitivity of 87.5% for the non-LGV/LGV RT-PCR assay. Additional performance characteristics (e.g., specificity, accuracy, and reproducibility) were all between 93% and 100% with a limit of detection ≤100 copies/reaction. Thus, this rapid RT-PCR method for LGV detection in clinical specimens is comparable to the reference method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evonne N Woodson
- Laboratory Leadership Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA; Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV, Hepatitis, STD, TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Samantha S Katz
- Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV, Hepatitis, STD, TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sheree S Mosley
- Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV, Hepatitis, STD, TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Damien C Danavall
- Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV, Hepatitis, STD, TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Katherine E Bowden
- Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV, Hepatitis, STD, TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kai-Hua Chi
- Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV, Hepatitis, STD, TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Brian H Raphael
- Division of STD Prevention, National Center for HIV, Hepatitis, STD, TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
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