CIRCULATING PARASITE ANTIGENS IN HUMAN FILARIASIS

人类丝虫病需要改进诊断方法以 检测早期感染并监测媒介的疗效 控制、药物治疗和未来的疫苗。我们的成功 一种灵敏、特异的寄生虫抗原检测方法的建立 犬类丝虫病导致研究开发和评估类似的 人类丝虫病检测。到目前为止的进展包括 患者血清中一种200kD寄生虫抗原的鉴定 班氏伍氏杆菌感染及其致病机理的研究 以单抗为基础的酶联免疫吸附试验检测该抗原。田野调查 在南印度进行的测试表明，这种测试比 比微丝虫检测更灵敏，它提供了一种物种- 具体诊断，并在开发中使用它是实用的 国家。 这项建议的第一个具体目标是更充分地探讨 班氏杆菌抗原检测在临床和临床中的应用价值 班克罗夫斯坦丝虫病的流行病学工具。我们将继续 探讨寄生虫抗原血症在“地方病”中的意义 并将抗原检测评估为药物治疗后治愈的测试 治疗。我们亦会扩大实地考察，以评估 在不同的流行区进行测试。 这项提议的第二个具体目标是发展和 评估布鲁格丝虫病的抗原诊断试验和 盘尾丝虫病。我们在盘尾丝虫病领域的扩展是 普遍认识到，提高诊断水平是合理的 在媒介时代，需要方法来监测传播 对照和伊维菌素。含有寄生虫抗原的 在日本人的血清中发现了磷酰胆碱表位。 感染团头虫和马来丝虫的人和动物。 不幸的是，基于对这些抗原的检测 抗磷胆碱的单抗一直不敏感。 因为抗体竞争。新功能的其他工作 方法是必要的。 我们的第三个具体目标是检验假设，基于 在人类和实验动物中观察到，抗体 对循环中的寄生虫抗原可能起到保护作用 丝虫病的免疫力。

Improved diagnostic methods are needed for human filariasis to detect early infections and to monitor the efficacy of vector control, drug therapy, and future vaccines. Our successful development of a sensitive and specific parasite antigen assay for canine dirofilariasis led to studies to develop and evaluate similar tests for human filariasis. Progress to date has included the identification of a 200 kD parasite antigen in sera from patients infected with Wuchereria bancrofti and development of a monoclonal antibody-based ELISA for this antigen. Field studies conducted in South India demonstrated that this assay is more sensitive than microfilaria detection, that it provides a species- specific diagnosis, and that it is practical for use in developing countries. The first specific aim of this proposal is to more fully explore the practical value of the W. bancrofti antigen assay as a clinical and epidemiological tool for bancroftian filariasis. We will continue to study the significance of parasite antigenemia in "endemic normals" and assess antigen detection as a test of cure after drug treatment. We will also expand our field studies to evaluate the test in different endemic areas. The second specific aim of this proposal is to develop and evaluate antigen diagnostic tests for brugian filariasis and onchocerciasis. Our expansion into the area of onchocerciasis is justified by a general recognition that improved diagnostic methods are needed to monitor transmission in the era of vector control and ivermectin. Parasite antigens containing the phosphorylcholine epitope have been demonstrated in sera from humans and animals infected with O. volvulus and B. malayi. Unfortunately, assays based on detection of these antigens with monoclonal antibodies to phosphorycholine have been insensitive because of antibody competition. Additional work with new approaches is needed. Our third specific aim is to test the hypothesis, based on observations in humans and experimental animals, that antibodies to circulating parasite antigens may have a role in protective immunity in filariasis.