Recombinant Immunoassay Diagnoses Human Fascioliasis
|
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 03 Oct 2013 |
|
Image: Adult of Fasciola hepatica stained with carmine (Photo courtesy of US Centers for Disease Control).
The current diagnosis of human fascioliasis involves the detection of eggs in the stool, however, eggs are not observed during the acute phase when the parasite is migrating through the tissues.
A human immune response to Fasciola antigens occurs early in infection, therefore, an immunological method such as an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) may be a more reliable, easy and cheap means to diagnose human fascioliasis than coprological analysis.
Scientists from McGill University (Montreal, QC, Canada) collected serum samples from 93 Cuban individuals that were coprologically positive for eggs of F. hepatica and clinically diagnosed in the hospital. Samples were also collected from 72 Cuban and 63 Canadian individuals that were shown to be negative for Fasciola infection, and 158 serum samples obtained from individuals infected with other parasitic diseases. The ELISA test was optimized using a recombinant form of the major F. hepatica cathepsin L1 protease antigen (FhCL1).
The ELISA test using anti-total immunoglobulin G (IgG) secondary antibody gave 99.99% specificity and also exhibited 99.99% sensitivity for identifying infected individuals. The results showed that absorbance readings obtained with sera from patients infected with parasites other than F. hepatica closely matched that obtained with the negative control samples. The investigators found that using 0.55 optical density (OD) units as cut-off with anti-total IgG as secondary antibody, the test can discriminate between F. hepatica patients and all other infections examined.
The authors concluded that their standardized ELISA test using a highly stable recombinant form of cathepsin L1, FhCL1, exhibits high sensitivity and specificity and with no cross-reaction with other parasitic diseases. High production of this enzyme can be obtained by purification of Pichia pastoris culture medium, which provides sufficient quantities of material to supply diagnostic centers for mass screening in regions where human fascioliasis is prevalent. The study was published on September 19, 2013, in the journal Public Library of Science Neglected Tropical Disease.
Related Links:
McGill University
A human immune response to Fasciola antigens occurs early in infection, therefore, an immunological method such as an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) may be a more reliable, easy and cheap means to diagnose human fascioliasis than coprological analysis.
Scientists from McGill University (Montreal, QC, Canada) collected serum samples from 93 Cuban individuals that were coprologically positive for eggs of F. hepatica and clinically diagnosed in the hospital. Samples were also collected from 72 Cuban and 63 Canadian individuals that were shown to be negative for Fasciola infection, and 158 serum samples obtained from individuals infected with other parasitic diseases. The ELISA test was optimized using a recombinant form of the major F. hepatica cathepsin L1 protease antigen (FhCL1).
The ELISA test using anti-total immunoglobulin G (IgG) secondary antibody gave 99.99% specificity and also exhibited 99.99% sensitivity for identifying infected individuals. The results showed that absorbance readings obtained with sera from patients infected with parasites other than F. hepatica closely matched that obtained with the negative control samples. The investigators found that using 0.55 optical density (OD) units as cut-off with anti-total IgG as secondary antibody, the test can discriminate between F. hepatica patients and all other infections examined.
The authors concluded that their standardized ELISA test using a highly stable recombinant form of cathepsin L1, FhCL1, exhibits high sensitivity and specificity and with no cross-reaction with other parasitic diseases. High production of this enzyme can be obtained by purification of Pichia pastoris culture medium, which provides sufficient quantities of material to supply diagnostic centers for mass screening in regions where human fascioliasis is prevalent. The study was published on September 19, 2013, in the journal Public Library of Science Neglected Tropical Disease.
Related Links:
McGill University
Gold Member
Antipsychotic TDM Assays
Saladax Antipsychotic Assays
Gold Member
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Test
OSOM® RSV Test
Sperm Quality Analyis Kit
QwikCheck Beads Precision and Linearity Kit
Hemodynamic System Monitor
OptoMonitor
Latest Immunology News
- Chip Captures Cancer Cells from Blood to Help Select Right Breast Cancer Treatment
- Blood-Based Liquid Biopsy Model Analyzes Immunotherapy Effectiveness
- Signature Genes Predict T-Cell Expansion in Cancer Immunotherapy
- Molecular Microscope Diagnostic System Assesses Lung Transplant Rejection
- Blood Test Tracks Treatment Resistance in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer
- Luminescent Probe Measures Immune Cell Activity in Real Time
- Blood-Based Immune Cell Signatures Could Guide Treatment Decisions for Critically Ill Patients
- Novel Tool Predicts Most Effective Multiple Sclerosis Medication for Patients
- Companion Diagnostic Test for CRC Patients Identifies Eligible Treatment Population
- Novel Tool Uses Deep Learning for Precision Cancer Therapy
- Companion Diagnostic Test Identifies HER2-Ultralow Breast Cancer and Biliary Tract Cancer Patients
- Novel Multiplex Assay Supports Diagnosis of Autoimmune Vasculitis
- Blood Test Predicts Immunotherapy Efficacy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- Simple Genetic Testing Could Predict Treatment Success in Multiple Sclerosis Patients
- Novel Gene Signature Predicts Immunotherapy Response in Advanced Kidney Cancers
- New Technology Deciphers Immune Cell Communication to Predict Immunotherapy Response
Channels
Clinical Chemistry
view channel
Chemical Imaging Probe Could Track and Treat Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer remains a leading cause of illness and death among men, with many patients eventually developing resistance to standard hormone-blocking therapies. These drugs often lose effectiveness... Read more
Mismatch Between Two Common Kidney Function Tests Indicates Serious Health Problems
Creatinine has long been the standard for measuring kidney filtration, while cystatin C — a protein produced by all human cells — has been recommended as a complementary marker because it is influenced... Read more
Molecular Diagnostics
view channel
Microfluidic Device Predicts Pancreatic Cancer Recurrence After Surgery
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the deadliest cancers, difficult to detect early, and prone to recurring in nearly 70% of patients after treatment. Its location deep in the abdomen and its aggressive... Read more
New Molecular Test Simultaneously Detects Three Major Fungal Infections
Serious fungal infections associated with soil exposure remain difficult to diagnose promptly, especially in regions where Histoplasma, Blastomyces, and Coccidioides are endemic. Many patients present... Read more
Hematology
view channel
Platelet Activity Blood Test in Middle Age Could Identify Early Alzheimer’s Risk
Early detection of Alzheimer’s disease remains one of the biggest unmet needs in neurology, particularly because the biological changes underlying the disorder begin decades before memory symptoms appear.... Read more
Microvesicles Measurement Could Detect Vascular Injury in Sickle Cell Disease Patients
Assessing disease severity in sickle cell disease (SCD) remains challenging, especially when trying to predict hemolysis, vascular injury, and risk of complications such as vaso-occlusive crises.... Read more
ADLM’s New Coagulation Testing Guidance to Improve Care for Patients on Blood Thinners
Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are one of the most common types of blood thinners. Patients take them to prevent a host of complications that could arise from blood clotting, including stroke, deep... Read more
Immunology
view channel
Chip Captures Cancer Cells from Blood to Help Select Right Breast Cancer Treatment
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) accounts for about a quarter of all breast cancer cases and generally carries a good prognosis. This non-invasive form of the disease may or may not become life-threatening.... Read more
Blood-Based Liquid Biopsy Model Analyzes Immunotherapy Effectiveness
Immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer care by harnessing the immune system to fight tumors, yet predicting who will benefit remains a major challenge. Many patients undergo costly and taxing treatment... Read more
Pathology
view channel
AI Tool to Transform Skin Cancer Detection with Near-Perfect Accuracy
Melanoma continues to be one of the most difficult skin cancers to diagnose because it often resembles harmless moles or benign lesions. Traditional AI tools depend heavily on dermoscopic images alone,... Read more
Unique Immune Signatures Distinguish Rare Autoimmune Condition from Multiple Sclerosis
Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody–associated disease (MOGAD) is a rare autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the myelin sheath in the central nervous system. Although symptoms... Read more
Technology
view channel
AI Saliva Sensor Enables Early Detection of Head and Neck Cancer
Early detection of head and neck cancer remains difficult because the disease produces few or no symptoms in its earliest stages, and lesions often lie deep within the head or neck, where biopsy or endoscopy... Read more
AI-Powered Biosensor Technology to Enable Breath Test for Lung Cancer Detection
Detecting lung cancer early remains one of the biggest challenges in oncology, largely because current tools are invasive, expensive, or unable to identify the disease in its earliest phases.... Read more
Industry
view channel
Abbott Acquires Cancer-Screening Company Exact Sciences
Abbott (Abbott Park, IL, USA) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Exact Sciences (Madison, WI, USA), enabling it to enter and lead in fast-growing cancer diagnostics segments.... Read more
