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1.
Nat Commun ; 14(1): 1360, 2023 03 13.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36914649

ABSTRACT

Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) is the dominant malaria parasite in Nigeria though P. vivax (Pv), P. ovale (Po), and P. malariae (Pm) are also endemic. Blood samples (n = 31,234) were collected from children aged 0-14 years during a 2018 nationwide HIV survey and assayed for Plasmodium antigenemia, Plasmodium DNA, and IgG against Plasmodium MSP1-19 antigens. Of all children, 6.6% were estimated to have Pm infection and 1.4% Po infection with no Pv infections detected. The highest household wealth quintile was strongly protective against infection with Pm (aOR: 0.11, 95% CI: 0.05-0.22) or Po (aOR= 0.01, 0.00-0.10). Overall Pm seroprevalence was 34.2% (95% CI: 33.3-35.2) with lower estimates for Po (12.1%, 11.6-12.5) and Pv (6.3%, 6.0-6.7). Pm seropositivity was detected throughout the country with several local government areas showing >50% seroprevalence. Serological and DNA indicators show widespread exposure of Nigerian children to Pm with lower rates to Po and Pv.


Subject(s)
Malaria, Falciparum , Malaria, Vivax , Malaria , Plasmodium , Humans , Child , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Nigeria/epidemiology , Malaria/epidemiology , Malaria/parasitology , Malaria, Vivax/parasitology , Plasmodium falciparum/genetics , Antigens, Protozoan , Immunoglobulin G , Malaria, Falciparum/parasitology , Plasmodium vivax/genetics
2.
J Virol ; 96(16): e0067222, 2022 08 24.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35894603

ABSTRACT

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with outbreaks reported in the Arabian Peninsula and throughout SSA. The natural reservoir for RVFV are ruminants, with livestock populations exceeding 50% exposure rates in some areas of SSA. Transmission to humans can occur through exposure to infected livestock products or multiple species of mosquito vectors. In 2013 and 2014, cross-sectional surveys occurred in two districts of Nacala-a-Velha and Mecubúri in northern Mozambique, and participants provided blood samples for later serological assays. IgG against the N protein of RVFV was detected through multiplex bead assay (MBA). Of the 2,278 persons enrolled between the two surveys and study sites, 181 (7.9%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 6.9%-9.1%) were found to be IgG seropositive with increasing seroprevalence with older age and significantly higher seroprevalence in Nacala-a-Velha (10.5%, 8.8%-12.5%) versus Mecubúri (5.7%, 4.5%-7.1%). Seroprevalence estimates were not significantly different between the 2013 and 2014 surveys. Significant spatial clustering of IgG positive persons were consistent among surveys and within the two districts, pointing toward the consistency of serology data for making population-level assumptions regarding RVFV seroprevalence. A subset of persons (n = 539) provided samples for both the 2013 and 2014 surveys, and a low percentage (0.81%) of these were found to seroconvert between these two surveys. Including the RVFV N protein in an MBA antigen panel could assist elucidate RVFV exposure in SSA. IMPORTANCE Due to sporadic transmission, human contact with Rift Valley Fever Virus (RVFV) is difficult to ascertain at a population level. Detection of antibodies against RVFV antigens assist in estimating exposure as antibodies remain in the host long after the virus has been cleared. In this study, we show that antibodies against RVFV N protein can be detected from dried blood spot (DBS) samples being assayed by multiplex bead assay. DBS from two districts in northern Mozambique were tested for IgG against the N protein, and 7.9% of all enrolled persons were seropositive. Older persons, males, and persons residing closer to the coast had higher RVFV N protein seroprevalence. Spatial clustering of IgG positive persons was noted in both districts. These results show low exposure rates to RVFV in these two northern districts in Mozambique, and the ability to perform serology for the RVFV N protein from dried blood samples.


Subject(s)
Microbiological Techniques/methods , Nucleocapsid Proteins/analysis , Rift Valley Fever , Rift Valley fever virus , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Animals , Antibodies, Viral , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Immunoglobulin G , Livestock , Male , Mozambique/epidemiology , Rift Valley Fever/epidemiology , Rift Valley fever virus/physiology , Seroepidemiologic Studies
3.
Methods Mol Biol ; 2052: 61-85, 2020.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31452157

ABSTRACT

For more than 35 years, various assay formats have been used to detect Cryptosporidium-specific antibodies in human and animal sera. Cryptosporidium parvum 17- and 27-kDa antigens, identified from invasive sporozoites, have been used in serologic antibody assays to identify individuals infected in outbreaks of diarrheal disease caused by this protozoan parasite and to monitor exposures in communities. During infection, immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgM, and IgG responses are elicited by these immunodominant antigens, and the parasite-specific Ig responses diminish following the resolution of infection. Using the recombinant forms of the 17- and 27-kDa C. parvum antigens and the relatively recently developed multiplex bead assay (MBA), data from serologic antibody responses can be economically and efficiently acquired, especially when the Cryptosporidium assays are integrated with assays for antibody responses to antigens from other pathogens monitored in community-wide or nation-wide serosurveys. Here we describe the coupling of the C. parvum recombinant antigens to carboxylated polystyrene beads, the data acquisition and analysis of IgG antibodies bound to the coupled beads, and the quality control methods required for data validation using the Luminex/MBA system.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Protozoan/blood , Antigens, Protozoan/immunology , Cryptosporidiosis/diagnosis , Cryptosporidium parvum/immunology , Cryptosporidium/immunology , Immunoassay/methods , Antigens, Protozoan/genetics , Cryptosporidiosis/immunology , Cryptosporidium/isolation & purification , Cryptosporidium parvum/isolation & purification , Humans , Immunoassay/instrumentation , Immunoglobulin A/blood , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Immunoglobulin M/blood , Immunosorbent Techniques , Workflow
4.
Pathogens ; 8(3)2019 Jul 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31357631

ABSTRACT

The chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is spread by Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus mosquitos worldwide; infection can lead to disease including joint pain, fever, and rash, with some convalescent persons experiencing chronic symptoms. Historically, CHIKV transmission has occurred in Africa and Asia, but recent outbreaks have taken place in Europe, Indonesia, and the Americas. From September to October 2014, a survey was undertaken with nomadic pastoralists residing in the northeast departments of Senegal. Blood dried on filter paper (dried blood spots; DBS) were collected from 1465 participants of all ages, and assayed for Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against CHIKV E1 antigen by a bead-based multiplex assay. The overall seroprevalence of all participants to CHIKV E1 was 2.7%, with no persons under 10 years of age found to be antibody positive. Above 10 years of age, clear increases of seroprevalence and IgG levels were observed with increasing age; 7.6% of participants older than 50 years were found to be positive for anti-CHIKV IgG. Reported net ownership, net usage, and gender were all non-significant explanatory variables of seropositivity. These data show a low-level historical exposure of this pastoralist population to CHIKV, with no evidence of recent CHIKV transmission in the past decade.

5.
Gut Pathog ; 10: 45, 2018.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30337964

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cyclospora cayetanensis is a food-borne intestinal human parasite that causes outbreaks of diarrhea. There is a need for efficient laboratory methods for strain-level characterization to assist in outbreak investigations. By using next generation sequencing, genomic sequences can be obtained and compared to identify potential genotyping markers. However, there is no method available to propagate this parasite in the laboratory. Therefore, genomic DNA must be extracted from oocysts purified from human stool. The objective of this study was to apply optimized methods to purify C. cayetanensis oocysts and extract DNA in order to obtain high-quality whole genome sequences with minimum contamination of DNA from other organisms. RESULTS: Oocysts from 21 human stool specimens were separated from other stool components using discontinuous density gradient centrifugation and purified further by flow cytometry. Genomic DNA was used to construct Ovation Ultralow libraries for Illumina sequencing. MiSeq sequencing reads were taxonomically profiled for contamination, de novo assembled, and mapped to a draft genome available in GenBank to assess the quality of the resulting genomic sequences. Following all purification steps, the majority (81-99%) of sequencing reads were from C. cayetanensis. They could be assembled into draft genomes of around 45 MB in length with GC-content of 52%. CONCLUSIONS: Density gradients performed in the presence of a detergent followed by flow cytometry sorting of oocysts yielded sufficient genomic DNA largely free from contamination and suitable for whole genome sequencing of C. cayetanensis. The methods described here will facilitate the accumulation of genomic sequences from various samples, which is a prerequisite for the development of typing tools to aid in outbreak investigations.

6.
Emerg Infect Dis ; 24(6): 995-1001, 2018 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29774861

ABSTRACT

The index case of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in Haiti was reported during early 2014; the vector, the pervasive Aedes aegypti mosquito, promoted rapid spread throughout the country. During December 2014-February 2015, we collected blood samples from 4,438 persons at 154 sites (62 urban, 92 rural) throughout Haiti and measured CHIKV IgG by using a multiplex bead assay. Overall CHIKV seroprevalence was 57.9%; differences between rural (mean 44.9%) and urban (mean 78.4%) areas were pronounced. Logistic modeling identified the urban environment as a strong predictor of CHIKV exposure (adjusted odds ratio 3.34, 95% CI 2.38-4.69), and geographic elevation provided a strong negative correlation. We observed no correlation between age and antibody positivity or titer. Our findings demonstrated through serologic testing the recent and rapid dissemination of the arbovirus throughout the country. These results show the utility of serologic data to conduct epidemiologic studies of quickly spreading mosquitoborne arboviruses.


Subject(s)
Chikungunya Fever/epidemiology , Chikungunya Fever/virology , Chikungunya virus/immunology , Microspheres , Serologic Tests/methods , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Antigens, Viral/immunology , Chikungunya Fever/immunology , Chikungunya virus/classification , Child , Child, Preschool , Haiti/epidemiology , Humans , Immunoassay , Immunoglobulin G/immunology , Infant , Middle Aged , Mosquito Vectors/virology , Population Surveillance , Prevalence , Rural Health , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Urban Health , Young Adult
7.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis ; 12(4): e0006418, 2018 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29659574

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Evidence from recent studies assessing the impact of school water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions on child health has been mixed. Self-reports of disease are subject to bias, and few WASH impact evaluations employ objective health measures to assess reductions in disease and exposure to pathogens. We utilized antibody responses from dried blood spots (DBS) to measure the impact of a school WASH intervention on infectious disease among pupils in Mali. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We randomly selected 21 beneficiary primary schools and their 21 matched comparison schools participating in a matched-control trial of a comprehensive school-based WASH intervention in Mali. DBS were collected from 20 randomly selected pupils in each school (n = 807). We analyzed eluted IgG from the DBS using a Luminex multiplex bead assay to 28 antigens from 17 different pathogens. Factor analysis identified three distinct latent variables representing vector-transmitted disease (driven primarily by dengue), food/water-transmitted enteric disease (driven primarily by Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae), and person-to-person transmitted enteric disease (driven primarily by norovirus). Data were analyzed using a linear latent variable model. Antibody evidence of food/water-transmitted enteric disease (change in latent variable mean (ß) = -0.24; 95% CI: -0.53, -0.13) and person-to-person transmitted enteric disease (ß = -0.17; 95% CI: -0.42, -0.04) was lower among pupils attending beneficiary schools. There was no difference in antibody evidence of vector-transmitted disease (ß = 0.11; 95% CI: -0.05, 0.33). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Evidence of enteric disease was lower among pupils attending schools benefitting from school WASH improvements than students attending comparison schools. These findings support results from the parent study, which also found reduced incidence of self-reported diarrhea among pupils of beneficiary schools. DBS collection was feasible in this resource-poor field setting and provided objective evidence of disease at a low cost per antigen analyzed, making it an effective measurement tool for the WASH field. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01787058).


Subject(s)
Antibodies/blood , Communicable Diseases/epidemiology , Hygiene , Sanitation , Water Microbiology , Adolescent , Case-Control Studies , Child , Child, Preschool , Communicable Disease Control , Communicable Diseases/microbiology , Female , Humans , Male , Mali/epidemiology , Schools , Students
8.
Am J Trop Med Hyg ; 98(5): 1408-1412, 2018 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29582729

ABSTRACT

Blood samples from 805 students attending 42 elementary schools in Mopti, Sikasso, and Koulikoro regions, and Bamako district in Mali participated in a school water, sanitation, and hygiene intervention. Immunoglobulin (Ig) G responses to several antigens/pathogens were assessed by a multiplex bead assay (MBA), and the recombinant Taenia solium T24H antigen was included. Of all students tested, 8.0% were positive to rT24H, but in some schools 25-30%. A cluster of 12 widespread school locations showed not only a relative risk of 3.23 for T. solium exposure and significantly higher IgG responses (P < 0.001) but also significantly lower elevation (P = 0.04) (m, above sea level) compared with schools outside the cluster. All schools at elevations < 425 m showed significantly higher IgG responses (P = 0.017) than schools at elevations ≥ 425 m. The MBA is an excellent serological platform that provides cost-effective opportunities to expand testing in serosurveys.


Subject(s)
Cysticercosis/parasitology , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Immunomagnetic Separation/methods , Taenia solium/immunology , Animals , Antigens, Helminth/blood , Biomarkers , Child , Cysticercosis/epidemiology , Humans , Mali/epidemiology
9.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis ; 11(5): e0005616, 2017 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28542223

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Serological antibody levels are a sensitive marker of pathogen exposure, and advances in multiplex assays have created enormous potential for large-scale, integrated infectious disease surveillance. Most methods to analyze antibody measurements reduce quantitative antibody levels to seropositive and seronegative groups, but this can be difficult for many pathogens and may provide lower resolution information than quantitative levels. Analysis methods have predominantly maintained a single disease focus, yet integrated surveillance platforms would benefit from methodologies that work across diverse pathogens included in multiplex assays. METHODS/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We developed an approach to measure changes in transmission from quantitative antibody levels that can be applied to diverse pathogens of global importance. We compared age-dependent immunoglobulin G curves in repeated cross-sectional surveys between populations with differences in transmission for multiple pathogens, including: lymphatic filariasis (Wuchereria bancrofti) measured before and after mass drug administration on Mauke, Cook Islands, malaria (Plasmodium falciparum) before and after a combined insecticide and mass drug administration intervention in the Garki project, Nigeria, and enteric protozoans (Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia intestinalis, Entamoeba histolytica), bacteria (enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp.), and viruses (norovirus groups I and II) in children living in Haiti and the USA. Age-dependent antibody curves fit with ensemble machine learning followed a characteristic shape across pathogens that aligned with predictions from basic mechanisms of humoral immunity. Differences in pathogen transmission led to shifts in fitted antibody curves that were remarkably consistent across pathogens, assays, and populations. Mean antibody levels correlated strongly with traditional measures of transmission intensity, such as the entomological inoculation rate for P. falciparum (Spearman's rho = 0.75). In both high- and low transmission settings, mean antibody curves revealed changes in population mean antibody levels that were masked by seroprevalence measures because changes took place above or below the seropositivity cutoff. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Age-dependent antibody curves and summary means provided a robust and sensitive measure of changes in transmission, with greatest sensitivity among young children. The method generalizes to pathogens that can be measured in high-throughput, multiplex serological assays, and scales to surveillance activities that require high spatiotemporal resolution. Our results suggest quantitative antibody levels will be particularly useful to measure differences in exposure for pathogens that elicit a transient antibody response or for monitoring populations with very high- or very low transmission, when seroprevalence is less informative. The approach represents a new opportunity to conduct integrated serological surveillance for neglected tropical diseases, malaria, and other infectious diseases with well-defined antigen targets.


Subject(s)
Antibodies/blood , Elephantiasis, Filarial/epidemiology , Gastrointestinal Diseases/epidemiology , Malaria/epidemiology , Neglected Diseases/epidemiology , Serologic Tests/methods , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Animals , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross-Sectional Studies , Elephantiasis, Filarial/immunology , Female , Gastrointestinal Diseases/immunology , Haiti/epidemiology , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Malaria/immunology , Male , Middle Aged , Neglected Diseases/immunology , Nigeria/epidemiology , Polynesia/epidemiology , Seroepidemiologic Studies , United States/epidemiology , Young Adult
10.
Am J Trop Med Hyg ; 96(1): 229-232, 2017 Jan 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27799641

ABSTRACT

Dried blood spots (DBS) were collected from 805 children attending 42 elementary schools in the regions of Mopti, Sikasso, Koulikoro, and the regional capital of Bamako in Mali as part of an evaluation of a school health intervention. Eluted immunoglobulin (Ig) G from the DBS was assessed by a multiplex bead assay (MBA) for two filariasis antigens, Wuchereria bancrofti, Wb123, and Brugia malayi, Bm14, to determine the effectiveness of mass drug administration (MDA) programs to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF). The prevalence of positive IgG responses in the children to each antigen was less than 1%, indicating effectiveness of the MDA against LF. The MBA is an excellent serological platform that provides cost-effective opportunities to evaluate public health activities beyond the survey targets.


Subject(s)
Antigens, Helminth/immunology , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Serologic Tests/methods , Wuchereria bancrofti , Adolescent , Animals , Antibodies, Helminth/blood , Child , Child, Preschool , Humans , Mali/epidemiology , Schools , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Young Adult
11.
Am J Trop Med Hyg ; 96(2): 312-318, 2017 02 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27895279

ABSTRACT

Malaria serology through assaying for IgG against Plasmodium spp. antigens provides evidence into the infection history for an individual. The multiplex bead assay (MBA) allows for detection of IgG against multiple Plasmodium spp., and can be especially useful in many regions where Plasmodium falciparum is of primary clinical focus, but other species are co-endemic. Dried blood spots were collected from 805 Malian children attending 42 elementary schools in the regions of Mopti, Sikasso, Koulikoro, and Bamako capital district, and IgG assayed by MBA. As southern Mali is known to be holoendemic for P. falciparum, merozoite surface protein 1 19-kDa subunit (MSP-142) and apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA-1) antigens were included for serology against this parasite. Responses to these antigens both provided high estimates for lifetime exposure, with 730 (90%) children with IgG antibodies for MSP-142, 737 (91%) for AMA-1, and 773 (96%) positive for either or both. Also included was the antigen Plasmodium vivax MSP-119, against which 140 (17.4%) children were found to have antibodies. Increases in antibody titers with older age were clearly seen with the P. falciparum antigens, but not with the P. vivax antigen, likely indicating more of a sporadic, rather than sustained transmission for this species. The MBA provides effective opportunities to evaluate malaria transmission through serological analysis for multiple Plasmodium species.


Subject(s)
Immunoglobulin G/immunology , Plasmodium falciparum/immunology , Plasmodium vivax/immunology , Adolescent , Antigens, Protozoan/immunology , Child , Child, Preschool , Humans , Malaria, Falciparum/immunology , Malaria, Vivax/immunology , Mali , Microspheres
12.
Bull World Health Organ ; 94(11): 817-825A, 2016 Nov 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27821884

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To differentiate exposure to the newly introduced chikungunya virus from exposure to endemic dengue virus and other pathogens in Haiti. METHODS: We used a multiplex bead assay to detect immunoglobulin G (IgG) responses to a recombinant chikungunya virus antigen, two dengue virus-like particles and three recombinant Plasmodium falciparum antigens. Most (217) of the blood samples investigated were collected longitudinally, from each of 61 children, between 2011 and 2014 but another 127 were collected from a cross-sectional sample of children in 2014. FINDINGS: Of the samples from the longitudinal cohort, none of the 153 collected between 2011 and 2013 but 78.7% (48/61) of those collected in 2014 were positive for IgG responses to the chikungunya virus antigen. In the cross-sectional sample, such responses were detected in 96 (75.6%) of the children and occurred at similar prevalence across all age groups. In the same sample, responses to malarial antigen were only detected in eight children (6.3%) but the prevalence of IgG responses to dengue virus antigens was 60.6% (77/127) overall and increased steadily with age. Spatial analysis indicated that the prevalence of IgG responses to the chikungunya virus and one of the dengue virus-like particles decreased as the sampling site moved away from the city of Léogâne and towards the ocean. CONCLUSION: Serological evidence indicates that there had been a rapid and intense dissemination of chikungunya virus in Haiti. The multiplex bead assay appears to be an appropriate serological platform to monitor the seroprevalence of multiple pathogens simultaneously.


Subject(s)
Chikungunya Fever , Dengue , Environmental Exposure , Malaria , Adolescent , Chikungunya Fever/diagnosis , Chikungunya Fever/epidemiology , Chikungunya virus/isolation & purification , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross-Sectional Studies , Dengue/diagnosis , Dengue/epidemiology , Environmental Exposure/statistics & numerical data , Female , Haiti/epidemiology , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Malaria/diagnosis , Malaria/epidemiology , Male , Plasmodium falciparum/isolation & purification
14.
J Microbiol Methods ; 130: 23-26, 2016 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27553132

ABSTRACT

Illumina library preparation methods for ultra-low input amounts were compared using genomic DNA from two foodborne parasites (Angiostrongylus cantonensis and Cyclospora cayetanensis) as examples. The Ovation Ultralow method resulted in libraries with the highest concentration and produced quality sequencing data, even when the input DNA was in the picogram range.


Subject(s)
DNA, Protozoan/analysis , Foodborne Diseases/parasitology , Gene Library , High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods , Parasites/genetics , Angiostrongylus cantonensis/genetics , Animals , Base Sequence , Cyclospora/genetics , Food Parasitology , Genes, Protozoan , Genome, Protozoan , High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/instrumentation , Models, Biological
15.
Emerg Infect Dis ; 22(8): 1464-7, 2016 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27433881

ABSTRACT

Because the lack of typing tools for Cyclospora cayetanensis has hampered outbreak investigations, we sequenced its genome and developed a genotyping tool. We observed 2 to 10 geographically segregated sequence types at each of 5 selected loci. This new tool could be useful for case linkage and infection/contamination source tracking.


Subject(s)
Cyclospora/genetics , Cyclospora/isolation & purification , DNA, Protozoan/genetics , Multilocus Sequence Typing/methods , Genome, Protozoan/genetics , Genotype
16.
BMC Genomics ; 17: 316, 2016 04 30.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27129308

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cyclospora cayetanensis is an apicomplexan that causes diarrhea in humans. The investigation of foodborne outbreaks of cyclosporiasis has been hampered by a lack of genetic data and poor understanding of pathogen biology. In this study we sequenced the genome of C. cayetanensis and inferred its metabolism and invasion components based on comparative genomic analysis. RESULTS: The genome organization, metabolic capabilities and potential invasion mechanism of C. cayetanensis are very similar to those of Eimeria tenella. Propanoyl-CoA degradation, GPI anchor biosynthesis, and N-glycosylation are some apparent metabolic differences between C. cayetanensis and E. tenella. Unlike Eimeria spp., there are no active LTR-retrotransposons identified in C. cayetanensis. The similar repertoire of host cell invasion-related proteins possessed by all coccidia suggests that C. cayetanensis has an invasion process similar to the one in T. gondii and E. tenella. However, the significant reduction in the number of identifiable rhoptry protein kinases, phosphatases and serine protease inhibitors indicates that monoxenous coccidia, especially C. cayetanensis, have limited capabilities or use a different system to regulate host cell nuclear activities. C. cayetanensis does not possess any cluster of genes encoding the TA4-type SAG surface antigens seen in E. tenella, and may use a different family of surface antigens in initial host cell interactions. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that C. cayetanensis possesses coccidia-like metabolism and invasion components but unique surface antigens. Amino acid metabolism and post-translation modifications of proteins are some major differences between C. cayetanensis and other apicomplexans. The whole genome sequence data of C. cayetanensis improve our understanding of the biology and evolution of this major foodborne pathogen and facilitate the development of intervention measures and advanced diagnostic tools.


Subject(s)
Antigens, Protozoan/immunology , Cyclospora/physiology , Energy Metabolism , Genome , Genomics , Biomarkers , Computational Biology/methods , Cyclospora/pathogenicity , Energy Metabolism/genetics , Genomics/methods , High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing , Metabolic Networks and Pathways , Molecular Sequence Annotation , Phylogeny
17.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis ; 10(5): e0004699, 2016 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27136913

ABSTRACT

Collection of surveillance data is essential for monitoring and evaluation of public health programs. Integrated collection of household-based health data, now routinely carried out in many countries through demographic health surveys and multiple indicator surveys, provides critical measures of progress in health delivery. In contrast, biomarker surveys typically focus on single or related measures of malaria infection, HIV status, vaccination coverage, or immunity status for vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD). Here we describe an integrated biomarker survey based on use of a multiplex bead assay (MBA) to simultaneously measure antibody responses to multiple parasitic diseases of public health importance as part of a VPD serological survey in Cambodia. A nationally-representative cluster-based survey was used to collect serum samples from women of child-bearing age. Samples were tested by MBA for immunoglobulin G antibodies recognizing recombinant antigens from Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax, Wuchereria bancrofti, Toxoplasma gondii, Taenia solium, and Strongyloides stercoralis. Serologic IgG antibody results were useful both for generating national prevalence estimates for the parasitic diseases of interest and for confirming the highly focal distributions of some of these infections. Integrated surveys offer an opportunity to systematically assess the status of multiple public health programs and measure progress toward Millennium Development Goals.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Helminth/blood , Antibodies, Protozoan/blood , Helminthiasis/epidemiology , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Malaria/epidemiology , Toxoplasmosis/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Animals , Antibodies, Bacterial/blood , Antibodies, Viral/blood , Cambodia/epidemiology , Female , Health Surveys , Humans , Microspheres , Neglected Diseases/epidemiology , Plasmodium/immunology , Sensitivity and Specificity , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Strongyloides stercoralis/immunology , Taenia solium/immunology , Toxoplasma/immunology , Wuchereria bancrofti/immunology , Young Adult
18.
Clin Vaccine Immunol ; 23(7): 546-54, 2016 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27053629

ABSTRACT

To monitor progress toward maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination (MNTE) in Cambodia, we conducted a nationwide serosurvey of tetanus immunity in 2012. Multistage cluster sampling was used to select 2,154 women aged 15 to 39 years. Tetanus toxoid antibodies in serum samples were measured by gold-standard double-antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAE) and a novel multiplex bead assay (MBA). Antibody concentrations of ≥0.01 IU/ml by DAE or the equivalent for MBA were considered seroprotective. Estimated tetanus seroprotection was 88% (95% confidence interval [CI], 86 to 89%); 64% (95% CI, 61 to 67%) of women had antibody levels of ≥1.0 IU/ml. Seroprotection was significantly lower (P < 0.001) among women aged 15 to 19 years (63%) and 20 to 24 years (87%) than among those aged ≥25 years (96%), among nulliparous women than among parous women (71 versus 97%), and among those living in the western region than among those living in other regions (82 versus 89%). The MBA showed high sensitivity (99% [95% CI, 98 to 99%]) and specificity (92% [95% CI, 88 to 95%]) compared with DAE. Findings were compatible with MNTE in Cambodia (≥80% protection). Tetanus immunity gaps should be addressed through strengthened routine immunization and targeted vaccination campaigns. Incorporating tetanus testing in national serosurveys using MBAs, which can measure immunity to multiple pathogens simultaneously, may be beneficial for monitoring MNTE.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Bacterial/blood , Antitoxins/blood , Tetanus/immunology , Tetanus/prevention & control , Adolescent , Adult , Cambodia , Female , Humans , Immunoassay/methods , Young Adult
19.
Malar J ; 14: 436, 2015 Nov 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26537125

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: As a nation reduces the burden of falciparum malaria, identifying areas of transmission becomes increasingly difficult. Over the past decade, the field of utilizing malaria serological assays to measure exposure has grown rapidly, and a variety of serological methods for data acquisition and analysis of human IgG against falciparum antigens are available. Here, different immunoassays and statistical methods are utilized to analyse samples from a low transmission setting and directly compare the estimates generated. METHODS: A subset of samples (n = 580) from a 2012 Haitian nationwide malaria survey was employed as sample population of low falciparum endemicity. In addition to the Haitian samples, samples from 247 US residents were used as a reference population of 'true seronegatives'. Data acquisition was performed through standard ELISA and bead-based multiplex assays assaying for IgG antibodies to the Plasmodium falciparum antigens MSP-1p19, MSP-1p42(D), MSP-1p42(F), and AMA-1. Appropriate parametric distributions and seropositivity cutoff values were determined by statistical measures. RESULTS: Data from both assays showed a strong positive skew, and the lognormal distribution was found to be an appropriate statistical fit to the Haitian and American populations. The American samples served as a good serological true negative population for the multiplex assay, but not for ELISA-based data. Mixture model approaches to determine seronegative and seropositive populations from the Haitian data showed a high degree of distribution overlap-likely due to the historical low falciparum transmission in this nation. Different fittings to the reversible catalytic model resulted depending upon the immunoassay utilized and seropositivity cutoff method employed. Data were also analysed through fitting to penalized B-splines, presenting another possible analytical tool for the analysis of malaria serological data. CONCLUSIONS: Standardization of serological techniques and analyses may prove difficult as some tools can prove to be more useful depending on the area and parasite in question, making clear interpretation a vital pursuit. The presented analysis in the low-endemic nation of Haiti found malaria-naive US residents to be an appropriate seronegative reference population for the multiplex assay, and this assay providing consistent estimates between MSP-1 and AMA-1 antigens of percent seropositives for this low-endemic population.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Protozoan/blood , Immunoassay/methods , Malaria, Falciparum/epidemiology , Malaria, Falciparum/immunology , Plasmodium falciparum/immunology , Antigens, Protozoan/immunology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Haiti/epidemiology , Humans , Immunoglobulin G/blood
20.
Genome Announc ; 3(6)2015 Nov 19.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26586880

ABSTRACT

The parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis causes foodborne diarrheal illness. Here, we report draft genome sequences obtained from C. cayetanensis oocysts purified from a human stool sample. The genome assembly consists of 865 contigs with a total length of 44,563,857 bases. These sequences can facilitate the development of subtyping tools to aid outbreak investigations.

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