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The efficacy of recombinant protein lbk39 for the diagnosis of leishmaniosis in dogs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2020

Joyce Carvalho Pereira
Affiliation:
Federal University of Paraná, Post-graduate Course in Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology, Polytechnic Centre, Jardim das Américas, CEP 81530-980, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Pedro Dos Santos Sousa
Affiliation:
Federal University of Paraná, Post-graduate Course in Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology, Polytechnic Centre, Jardim das Américas, CEP 81530-980, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Ligia Moraes Barizon De Souza
Affiliation:
Federal University of Paraná, Post-graduate Course in Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology, Polytechnic Centre, Jardim das Américas, CEP 81530-980, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Aline Kuhn Sbruzzi Pasquali
Affiliation:
Federal University of Paraná, Post-graduate Course in Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology, Polytechnic Centre, Jardim das Américas, CEP 81530-980, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
Michelle Bates
Affiliation:
Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK
Paul Bates
Affiliation:
Division of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, UK
Vanete Thomaz Soccol*
Affiliation:
Federal University of Paraná, Post-graduate Course in Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology, Polytechnic Centre, Jardim das Américas, CEP 81530-980, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
*
Author for correspondence: Vanete Thomaz Soccol, E-mail: vanetesoccol@gmail.com

Abstract

Visceral leishmaniosis is one of the most important zoonotic diseases on the planet and dogs are the main reservoir of canine visceral leishmaniosis (CVL) in endemic areas. They play an important role in human infection because in dogs the disease appears long time after infection, and they can move uncontrollably, contributing to disperse the parasite. To take the decision to treat the animals or for euthanasia, in an elimination programme, in order to reduce the parasitic load, it is necessary to diagnose correctly, having more effective tools. Our group has developed a new recombinant antigen-based kinesin-related gene of Leishmania braziliensis (Lbk39), which shows 59% amino acid identity to the L. infantum homologue. The Lbk39 gene was synthesized, inserted into the pLEXSY-sat2 vector and transfected into L. tarentolae cells by electroporation. The recombinant protein was secreted in the culture with a C-terminal histidine marker, purified, generating a product at 337.68 μg mL−1. A total of 152 sera from dog's endemic and non-endemic areas were used, being 78 positives and 75 negatives. The antigen Lbk39 showed 100% sensitivity and 96.1% specificity. We compared this antigen with other antigens such as total extract of the parasite, TRDPP, and our data indicate that Lbk39 has potential application in the diagnosis of CVL through antibody detection.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

*

These authors contributed equally to this work.

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