A comprehensive multi-epitope recombinant protein strategy for accurate serological detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection.

IF 3.1 3区医学 Q1 IMMUNOLOGY

Medical Microbiology and Immunology Pub Date : 2025-12-22 DOI:10.1007/s00430-025-00863-x

Amirreza Javadi Mamaghani, Maryam Karimi, Ali Haghighi, Seyyed Javad Seyyed Tabaei, Omid Ali Adeli, Somayeh Aghamolaei, Maryam Ebrahimi, Shirzad Fallahi, Ali Mirzapour, Mohammad Yarahmadi

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is a globally prevalent zoonotic parasite responsible for toxoplasmosis. Accurate serological diagnosis remains challenging due to the lack of standardized, high-performance antigens. In this study, we designed a recombinant multi-epitope protein (ME-TG) by selecting B-cell epitopes from four immunodominant antigens: SAG1, GRA7, GRA4, and GRA14. The ME-TG construct was expressed in E. coli, purified, and evaluated using ELISA across 189 serum samples, including acute (n = 45), chronic (n = 38), healthy controls (n = 62), and individuals with other parasitic or bacterial infections (n = 42). The ME-TG-based ELISA demonstrated 98% sensitivity for both IgG and IgM detection, and 100% specificity, with no observed cross-reactivity. These findings highlight the diagnostic potential of ME-TG as a standardized serological marker for human toxoplasmosis. Further validation using larger, geographically diverse cohorts and additional T. gondii antigens is recommended to enhance clinical applicability.

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用于刚地弓形虫感染血清学准确检测的综合多表位重组蛋白策略。

刚地弓形虫是引起弓形虫病的一种全球流行的人畜共患寄生虫。由于缺乏标准化的高性能抗原，准确的血清学诊断仍然具有挑战性。在本研究中，我们从4种免疫优势抗原SAG1、GRA7、GRA4和GRA14中选择b细胞表位，设计了重组多表位蛋白（ME-TG）。ME-TG构建体在大肠杆菌中表达、纯化，并使用ELISA对189份血清样本进行评估，包括急性（n = 45）、慢性（n = 38）、健康对照（n = 62）和其他寄生虫或细菌感染个体（n = 42）。基于me - tg的ELISA检测IgG和IgM的灵敏度为98%，特异性为100%，无交叉反应。这些发现突出了ME-TG作为人类弓形虫病标准化血清学标志物的诊断潜力。建议使用更大的、地理上不同的队列和其他弓形虫抗原进行进一步验证，以增强临床适用性。

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来源期刊

Medical Microbiology and Immunology 医学-免疫学

CiteScore

10.60

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

1 months

期刊介绍： Medical Microbiology and Immunology (MMIM) publishes key findings on all aspects of the interrelationship between infectious agents and the immune system of their hosts. The journal´s main focus is original research work on intrinsic, innate or adaptive immune responses to viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic (protozoan and helminthic) infections and on the virulence of the respective infectious pathogens. MMIM covers basic, translational as well as clinical research in infectious diseases and infectious disease immunology. Basic research using cell cultures, organoid, and animal models are welcome, provided that the models have a clinical correlate and address a relevant medical question. The journal also considers manuscripts on the epidemiology of infectious diseases, including the emergence and epidemic spreading of pathogens and the development of resistance to anti-infective therapies, and on novel vaccines and other innovative measurements of prevention. The following categories of manuscripts will not be considered for publication in MMIM: submissions of preliminary work, of merely descriptive data sets without investigation of mechanisms or of limited global interest, manuscripts on existing or novel anti-infective compounds, which focus on pharmaceutical or pharmacological aspects of the drugs, manuscripts on existing or modified vaccines, unless they report on experimental or clinical efficacy studies or provide new immunological information on their mode of action, manuscripts on the diagnostics of infectious diseases, unless they offer a novel concept to solve a pending diagnostic problem, case reports or case series, unless they are embedded in a study that focuses on the anti-infectious immune response and/or on the virulence of a pathogen.