Gel purified LipL32: a prospective antigen for detection of leptospirosis.
BACKGROUND
Leptospirosis, a zoonosis, is a re-emerging disease, affecting populations across the globe. However, the current methods of diagnosis are time- consuming, cumbersome, imprecise or expensive.


OBJECTIVE
To develop an assay for differential and early diagnosis of Leptospirosis.


METHODS
IgG based ELISA for evaluation of three antigens, namely, a gel-purified recombinant protein (rLipL32), secreted proteins and whole organism sonicates of Leptospira spp. The antigens were evaluated using, rabbit polyclonal antiserum and human sera samples.


RESULTS
Studies with a rabbit polyclonal antiserum indicated the utility of these antigens in differentiating Leptospira from other common pathogenic organisms. Evaluation of these antigens with fifteen representative human serum samples indicated gel-purified rLipL32 to be a potentially useful antigen for detection of leptospirosis. The results obtained with IgG ELISA were correlated with the results of microscopic agglutination test (MAT).


CONCLUSIONS
Gel-purified rLipL32 is a valuable antigen for early and accurate diagnosis of leptospirosis. Further evaluation of this assay in field conditions and larger sera samples will indicate its suitability in case of an epidemic.
Tahiliani
P
P
Dept. of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore-560012, India.
Kumar
M Mohan
MM
Chandu
D
D
Kumar
A
A
Nagaraj
C
C
Nandi
D
D
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007919:Leptospira / Q000276:immunology*; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000276:immunology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C406589:LipL32 protein, Leptospira; D008074:Lipoproteins