New developments in malaria diagnostics: monoclonal antibodies against Plasmodium dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase, heme detoxification protein and glutamate rich protein.
Currently available rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for malaria show large variation in sensitivity and specificity, and there are concerns about their stability under field conditions. To improve current RDTs, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for novel malaria antigens have been developed and screened for their possible use in new diagnostic tests. Three antigens, glutamate rich protein (GLURP), dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase (DHFR-TS) and heme detoxification protein (HDP), were selected based on literature searches. Recombinant antigens were produced and used to immunize mice. Antibody-producing cell lines were subsequently selected and the resulting antibodies were screened for specificity against Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax. The most optimal antibody couples were selected based on antibody affinity (expressed as dissociation constants, KD) and detection limit of crude antigen extract from P. falciparum 3D7 culture. The highest affinity antibodies have KD values of 0.10 nM ± 0.014 (D5) and 0.068 ± 0.015 nM (D6) for DHFR-TS mAbs, 0.10 ± 0.022 nM (H16) and 0.21 ± 0.022 nM (H18) for HDP mAbs and 0.11 ± 0.028 nM (G23) and 0.33 ± 0.093 nM (G22) for GLURP mAbs. The newly developed antibodies performed at least as well as commercially available histidine rich protein antibodies (KD of 0.16 ± 0.13 nM for PTL3 and 1.0 ± 0.049 nM for C1-13), making them promising reagents for further test development.
Parasitology Unit, Royal Tropical Institute, Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen (KIT), KIT Biomedical Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. E.Kattenberg@KIT.nl
Johanna H
JH
Kattenberg
Inge
I
Versteeg
Stephanie J
SJ
Migchelsen
Iveth J
IJ
González
Mark D
MD
Perkins
Petra F
PF
Mens
Henk D F H
HD
Schallig
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D016780:Malaria, Vivax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010966:Plasmodium vivax / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D013762:Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013940:Thymidylate Synthase / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; C529576:HDP protein, Plasmodium falciparum; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C056930:thymidylate synthase-dihydrofolate reductase; C072492:glutamate-rich protein, Plasmodium; D013762:Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase; D013940:Thymidylate Synthase