title: Detection of Leishmania-specific DNA and surface antigens using a combination of functionalized magnetic beads and cadmium selenite quantum dots.
abstract: Leishmaniosis is a zoonotic disease that affects millions of people especially in resource-poor settings. The development of reliable diagnostic assays that do not require dedicated equipment or highly trained personnel would improve early diagnosis and effective control. For this purpose, a combination of magnetic bead and cadmium selenite quantum dot probes was applied for the detection of Leishmania-specific surface antigens (proteins) and DNA. Both analytes are isolated from the solution using magnetic bead capture probes whereas the presence of the targeted molecules is demonstrated by quantum dot detection probes. The sensitivity and specificity of this method reached 100% based on an assessment performed on 55 cultured isolates of various microbial pathogens. The low limit of detection was 3125 ng/μl and 10(3)cells/ml for Leishmania DNA and protein, respectively. The method shows considerable potential for clinical application in human and veterinary medicine, especially in resource-poor settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals, Faculty of Animal Science and Hydrobiology, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, Votanikos, Athens 11855, Greece.
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andreadou
authors.affiliation: VISAVET Health Surveillance centre, Complutense University of Madrid, Av. Puerta de Hierro s/n 28040, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Emmanouil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Liandris
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biology, School of Medicine, University of Athens, 176 Michalakopoulou, Athens 11527, Greece.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gazouli
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals, Faculty of Animal Science and Hydrobiology, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, Votanikos, Athens 11855, Greece.
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mataragka
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering, Biomedical Optics Research Laboratory, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ilias
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tachtsidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Medical school of Athens, 75 M. Asias, Goudi, Athens 11527, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaοs
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Goutas
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Medical school of Athens, 75 M. Asias, Goudi, Athens 11527, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vlachodimitropoulos
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals, Faculty of Animal Science and Hydrobiology, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, Votanikos, Athens 11855, Greece. Electronic address: ikonomop@aua.gr.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ikonomopoulos
mesh_terms: D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D002104:Cadmium / Q000737:chemistry; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D018189:Immunomagnetic Separation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D007891:Leishmania / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007896:Leishmaniasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry; D020887:Selenious Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D002104:Cadmium; D020887:Selenious Acid
keywords: Leishmania detection; Leishmaniasis; Leishmaniosis; Magnetic beads; Quantum dots