title: Succinyl-CoA Synthetase: New Antigen Candidate of Bartonella bacilliformis.
abstract: Bartonella bacilliformis is the causative agent of Carrion's disease, a neglected illness with mortality rates of 40-85% in the absence of treatment. The lack of a diagnostic technique to overcome misdiagnosis and treat asymptomatic carriers is of note. This study aimed to identify new B. bacilliformis antigenic candidates that could lead to a new diagnostic tool able to be implemented in endemic rural areas.
  
  
  
  Blood (n = 198) and serum (n = 177) samples were collected in northern Peru. Clinical data were recorded. Specific 16S rRNA amplification by RT-PCR, IFA and ELISA for IgM/IgG with whole cells as antigens was done. Western blot analysis and N-terminal amino acid sequencing detected seroreactive proteins. ELISAs for IgM/IgG for the antigenic candidates were performed. Of the population 33.3% reported at least one symptom compatible with Carrion's disease; 25.4% (IFA), 27.1% (ELISA-IgG), 33.9% (ELISA-IgM) and 38.9% (RT-PCR) of samples were positive. Four proteins were considered potential antigenic candidates, including two new antigenic candidates, succinyl-CoA synthetase subunit α (SCS-α) and succinyl-CoA synthetase subunit β (SCS-β). On Western blot both Pap31 and SCS-α interacted with IgM, while GroEL and SCS-β interacted with IgG. The presence of specific antibodies against the antigenic candidates varied from 34.5% (IgG against SCS-α) to 97.2% (IgM against Pap31).
  
  
  
  RT-PCR and the high levels of positivity for specific ELISAs demonstrate high levels of B. bacilliformis exposure and asymptomatic carriers among inhabitants. The new antigens identified might be used as a new rapid diagnostic tool to diagnose acute Carrion's disease and identify asymptomatic carriers.
authors.affiliation: ISGlobal, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Cláudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: ISGlobal, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Noemí
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Palma
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación e Innovación, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Maria J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Pons
authors.affiliation: ISGlobal, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magallón-Tejada
authors.affiliation: Red de Salud de Morropon Chulucanas, Piura, Peru.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sandoval
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación e Innovación, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, Lima, Peru.|Instituto de Investigación Nutricional, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tinco-Valdez
authors.affiliation: Red de Salud de Morropon Chulucanas, Piura, Peru.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gutarra
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación e Innovación, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, Lima, Peru.|Instituto de Investigación Nutricional, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Juana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Del Valle-Mendoza
authors.affiliation: ISGlobal, Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Joaquim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Mayumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuoka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D045503:Bartonella bacilliformis / Q000276:immunology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010568:Peru; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013389:Succinate-CoA Ligases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014709:Vero Cells; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D013389:Succinate-CoA Ligases