Characterization of Novel <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i>-Specific Antigen with Potential Use in the Diagnosis of Chagas Disease
Chagas disease is caused by the parasite <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i>. In humans, it evolves into a chronic disease, eventually resulting in cardiac, digestive, and/or neurological disorders. In the present study, we characterized a novel <i>T. cruzi</i> antigen named Tc323 (TcCL...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/2/1202 |
| Summary: | Chagas disease is caused by the parasite <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i>. In humans, it evolves into a chronic disease, eventually resulting in cardiac, digestive, and/or neurological disorders. In the present study, we characterized a novel <i>T. cruzi</i> antigen named Tc323 (TcCLB.504087.20), recognized by a single-chain monoclonal antibody (scFv 6B6) isolated from the B cells of patients with cardiomyopathy related to chronic Chagas disease. Tc323, a ~323 kDa protein, is an uncharacterized protein showing putative quinoprotein alcohol dehydrogenase-like domains. A computational molecular docking study revealed that the scFv 6B6 binds to an internal domain of Tc323. Immunofluorescence microscopy and Western Blot showed that Tc323 is expressed in the main developmental forms of <i>T. cruzi</i>, localized intracellularly and exhibiting a membrane-associated pattern. According to phylogenetic analysis, Tc323 is highly conserved throughout evolution in all the lineages of <i>T. cruzi</i> so far identified, but it is absent in <i>Leishmania</i> spp. and <i>Trypanosoma brucei</i>. Most interestingly, only plasma samples from patients infected with <i>T. cruzi</i> and those with mixed infection with <i>Leishmania</i> spp. reacted against Tc323. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that Tc323 is a promising candidate for the differential serodiagnosis of chronic Chagas disease in areas where <i>T. cruzi</i> and <i>Leishmania</i> spp. infections coexist. |
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| ISSN: | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |