title: Saposin-like Proteins, a Multigene Family of Schistosoma Species, are Biomarkers for the Immunodiagnosis of Schistosomiasis Japonica.
abstract: One major obstacle to schistosomiasis prevention and control is the lack of accurate and sensitive diagnostic approaches, which are essential for planning, targeting, and evaluating disease control efforts.
  
  
  
  Based on bioinformatics analysis, we identified a multigene family of saposin-like protein (SAPLP) in the schistosome genomes. Schistosoma japonicum SAPLPs (SjSAPLPs), including recently reported promising biomarker SjSP-13, were systematically and comparatively assessed as immunodiagnostic antigens for schistosomiasis japonica.
  
  
  
  Two novel antigens (SjSAPLP4 and SjSAPLP5) could specifically react to serum samples from both S. japonicum-infected laboratory animals and patients. The sensitivities of SjSAPLP4, SjSAPLP5, and SjSP-13 for immunodiagnosis were 98% (95% confidence interval, 88.0%-99.9%), 96% (85.1%-99.3%), and 88% (75.0%-95.0%), respectively, and 100% (91.1%-100%) specificity was observed for the 3 antigens with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; there was no cross-reaction with clonorchiosis (0 of 19 patients), echinococcosis (0 of 20 patients), or trichinellosis (0 of 18 patients) for the 3 antigens. Antibodies to the 3 antigens could be detected in the serum samples of rabbits infected with 1000 cercariae as early as 3-4 weeks after infection.
  
  
  
  These results suggest that SjSAPLP4 and SjSAPLP5 could serve as novel biomarkers for the immunodiagnosis of schistosomiasis japonica, which will further improve diagnostic sensitivity and specificity.
authors.affiliation: MOH Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing.
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: MOH Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing.
authors.forename: Xiaosu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: MOH Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing.
authors.forename: Xianyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Piao
authors.affiliation: MOH Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, MOH, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai.
authors.forename: Yujuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Tropical Medicine Research Institute.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: MOH Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing.
authors.forename: Shanshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, MOH, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai.
authors.forename: Jianping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: MOH Key Laboratory of Systems Biology of Pathogens, Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing Key Laboratory of Zoonosis, Shenyang Agriculture University, China.
authors.forename: Qijun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007159:Immunologic Tests / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D011817:Rabbits; D049231:Saposins / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000235:genetics; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth; D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D015415:Biomarkers; D049231:Saposins
keywords: Schistosoma japonicum; biomarkers; immunodiagnosis; saposin-like proteins; schistosomiasis