Application of synthetic peptides to the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis

Trop Med Int Health. 2003 Dec;8(12):1124-30. doi: 10.1046/j.1360-2276.2003.01132.x.

Abstract

We tested the possible diagnostic utility of five Taenia saginata oncosphere-derived synthetic peptides in T. solium neurocysticercosis (NC). The five peptides correspond to protein sequences with high antigenic indexes that were cloned from a T. saginata oncosphere cDNA library. The test samples consisted of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples randomly collected from patients referred from Mexican and Brazilian neurological institutes. Indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were carried out with the peptides either unconjugated or coupled to carrier proteins, and were compared with results obtained using T. solium cyst fluid as a positive control. For active inflammatory NC, the higher sensibility (93%) and specificity (85%) was obtained with peptides HP6-2 and Ts45W-1, respectively, coupled to ovalbumin, in both Mexican and Brazilian patients. Examining the results of the individual peptide assays in combination, in some instances, improved the sensitivity to 100%.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Antibodies, Helminth / cerebrospinal fluid
  • Antigens, Helminth / immunology*
  • DNA, Helminth / genetics
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
  • Female
  • Gene Library
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neurocysticercosis / diagnosis*
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Taenia saginata / genetics
  • Taenia saginata / immunology*
  • Taenia solium / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Helminth
  • Antigens, Helminth
  • DNA, Helminth
  • Peptide Fragments