High throughput selection of effective serodiagnostics for Trypanosoma cruzi infection.
BACKGROUND
Diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi infection by direct pathogen detection is complicated by the low parasite burden in subjects persistently infected with this agent of human Chagas disease. Determination of infection status by serological analysis has also been faulty, largely due to the lack of well-characterized parasite reagents for the detection of anti-parasite antibodies.


METHODS
In this study, we screened more than 400 recombinant proteins of T. cruzi, including randomly selected and those known to be highly expressed in the parasite stages present in mammalian hosts, for the ability to detect anti-parasite antibodies in the sera of subjects with confirmed or suspected T. cruzi infection.


RESULTS
A set of 16 protein groups were identified and incorporated into a multiplex bead array format which detected 100% of >100 confirmed positive sera and also documented consistent, strong and broad responses in samples undetected or discordant using conventional serologic tests. Each serum had a distinct but highly stable reaction pattern. This diagnostic panel was also useful for monitoring drug treatment efficacy in chronic Chagas disease.


CONCLUSIONS
These results substantially extend the variety and quality of diagnostic targets for Chagas disease and offer a useful tool for determining treatment success or failure.
Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America.
Gretchen
G
Cooley
R Drew
RD
Etheridge
Courtney
C
Boehlke
Becky
B
Bundy
D Brent
DB
Weatherly
Todd
T
Minning
Matthew
M
Haney
Miriam
M
Postan
Susana
S
Laucella
Rick L
RL
Tarleton
D000328:Adult; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D057166:High-Throughput Screening Assays / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods*; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D015800:Protozoan Proteins