title: Evaluation of FlaB1, FlaB2, FlaB3, and Tp0463 of Treponema pallidum for serodiagnosis of syphilis.
abstract: Syphilis is a multistage disease caused by the invasive spirochete Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum, and accurate diagnosis is important for the prevention and treatment of syphilis. Here, to identify appropriate diagnostic antigens for serodiagnosis of syphilis, 6 recombinant proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified, including flagellins (FlaB1 [Tp0868], FlaB2 [Tp0792], and FlaB3 [Tp0870]), Tp0463, Tp0751, and Tp1038. The sensitivities were determined by screening sera from individuals with primary (n=82), secondary (n=115), latent (n=105), and congenital (n=65) syphilis. The specificities were determined by screening sera from uninfected controls (n=30) and potentially cross-reactive infections including Lyme disease (n=30), leptospirosis (n=5), and hepatitis B (n=30). Our data showed that FlaB1, FlaB2, FlaB3, Tp0463, and Tp1038 exhibited higher overall sensitivities and specificities for detecting IgG antibody, with 95.4% and 98.9%, 92.6% and 95.8%, 95.1% and 95.8%, 92.6% and 97.9%, and 95.9% and 98.9%, respectively. In contrast, Tp0751 demonstrated only an overall sensitivity of 39.2%. For comparison, the sensitivity and specificity of Architect Syphilis TP were determined to be 98.1% and 93.7%, respectively. In addition, FlaB1, FlaB2, FlaB3, and Tp0463 demonstrated excellent performance for detecting IgM antibody in primary and congenital syphilis, with sensitivities of 76.8% and 83.1%, 72.0% and 87.7%, 74.4% and 89.2%, and 64.6% and 75.3%, respectively. These results indicate that FlaB1, FlaB2, FlaB3, and Tp0463 could be as novel diagnostic candidates for serodiagnosis of syphilis.
authors.affiliation: Pathogenic Biology Institute, Medical College, University of South China, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang 421001, China.
authors.forename: Chuanhao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, Changsha 410005, China.
authors.forename: Jinhong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Pathogenic Biology Institute, Medical College, University of South China, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang 421001, China.
authors.forename: Yafeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China.
authors.forename: Yongjian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Pathogenic Biology Institute, Medical College, University of South China, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang 421001, China.
authors.forename: Chuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Pathogenic Biology Institute, Medical College, University of South China, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang 421001, China.
authors.forename: Xingxing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Kuang
authors.affiliation: Pathogenic Biology Institute, Medical College, University of South China, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang 421001, China.
authors.forename: Man
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Pathogenic Biology Institute, Medical College, University of South China, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang 421001, China.
authors.forename: Ranhui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Pathogenic Biology Institute, Medical College, University of South China, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang 421001, China.
authors.forename: Tiebing
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China.
authors.forename: Shuanquan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Zoology, Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Pathogenic Biology Institute, Medical College, University of South China, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang 421001, China.
authors.forename: Feijun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Pathogenic Biology Institute, Medical College, University of South China, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Special Pathogens Prevention and Control, Hengyang 421001, China. Electronic address: yimouwu@sina.com.
authors.forename: Yimou
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D005408:Flagellin / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods*; D013587:Syphilis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014210:Treponema pallidum / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C064192:flaB1 protein, bacteria; C064193:flaB3 protein, Treponema pallidum; D005408:Flagellin
keywords: Congenital syphilis; Flagellin; Recombinant protein; Syphilis; Treponema pallidum