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Recombinant antigens for immunodiagnosis of cystic echinococcosis

Biological Procedures Online volume 6, pages 67–77 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Three cDNAs, termed EpC1, TPxEg and EgG5, were isolated by immunoscreening from an Echinococcus granulosus cDNA library. The recombinant phages exhibited strong reactivity with sera from humans with confirmed cystic echinococcosis (CE) and with sera from mice infected with E. granulosus oncospheres. The cDNAs were subcloned into a pET vector, expressed as fusion proteins tagged with GST and affinity purified against the GST tag. Of the three recombinant proteins, EpC1 achieved the highest performance for serodiagnosis of CE in Western blot analysis using a panel of clinically defined human sera to initially address the sensitivity and specificity of the molecules. The protein yielded an overall sensitivity of 92.2% and specificity of 95.6%, levels unprecedented taking into account the large panel of 896 human sera that were tested. The strategy used may also prove suitable for improved immunodiagnosis of other parasitic infections.

Abbreviations

CE:

cystic echinococcosis

AE:

alveolar echinococcosis

NCC:

neurocysticercosis

Schist:

schistosomiasis

Others:

other infections/clinical presentations

Healthy:

uninfected controls

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, Australian Centre for International and Tropical Health and Nutrition, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, 300 Herston Road, 4029, Herston, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    Jun Li, Wen-Bao Zhang & Donald P. McManus

Authors
  1. Jun Li
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  2. Wen-Bao Zhang
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  3. Donald P. McManus
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Correspondence to Donald P. McManus.

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Published: May 10, 2004.

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Li, J., Zhang, WB. & McManus, D.P. Recombinant antigens for immunodiagnosis of cystic echinococcosis. Biol. Proced. Online 6, 67–77 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1251/bpo74

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1251/bpo74

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Biological Procedures Online

ISSN: 1480-9222

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