Journal of Microbial & Biochemical Technology

A recombinant chimeric protein comprised of immunogenic epitopes of metabolic enzymes is serodiagnostic target for Trichomonas vaginalis sexually transmitted infections

Joint Event on 4^th World Congress and Expo on Applied Microbiology & 2^nd International Conference on Food Microbiology

November 29-December 01, 2017 Madrid, Spain

J F Alderete

Washington State University, USA

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Microb Biochem Technol

Abstract:

There is a need for a rapid, inexpensive and accurate serum antibody-based diagnostic with targets of high specificity for screening of large cohorts of women and men at risk of infection by Trichomonas vaginalis. This protist causes the number one nonviral sexually transmitted infection worldwide. The antigen-detection OSOM� Trichomonas Rapid Test (Seskui Diagnostics) is a lateral flow, immunochromatographic Point-of-Care test that works only for women. During our investigations of the T. vaginalishost interactions, highly immunogenic proteins detected by sera of patients with trichomonosis, but not uninfected controls were identified. Some of these immunogenic proteins include the metabolic enzymes fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (A), α-enolase (E), and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G). The epitopes of these proteins were characterized and found to have little or no sequence identity to other eukaryotes, yeasts, and microbial pathogens, including organisms that cause other STIs. We have constructed a new version of an earlier chimeric recombinant String-Of-Epitopes (SOE) protein consisting of 15-mer peptides of epitopes of A, E, and G. This composite protein called AEG:SOE2 was detected by ELISA with highly reactive sera of women and men but not control, negative serum lacking antibody to T. vaginalis. I believe that this approach lends itself to the creation of highly specific immunogenic targets for both detection of serum antibody in patients as well as for future subunit vaccines.

Biography :

J F Alderete received his PhD from The University of Kansas in 1978. He did Postdoctoral research at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has published 140 scientific articles and has 63 book chapters, invited articles, and press releases. His work has been presented at 157 scientific conferences, and he has given seminars at 90 colleges and universities worldwide. He has served in NIH Study Sections, Boards of Scientific Counselors, and National Advisory Councils. He has been a member of several National Academy of Medicine panels.