Antigen Detection Assay for the Diagnosis of Visceral Leismaniasis

描述（由申请方提供）：与常规血清学试验不同，抗原检测试验检测疾病状态，而不是对疾病病原体的宿主抗体反应。因此，它可用于诊断和疾病治疗随访目的。抗原检测试验已成功用于诊断不同的传染病，包括化脓性链球菌引起的咽喉痛、肝炎、肺炎链球菌或嗜肺军团菌引起的肺炎和阿米巴病。虽然抗原检测试验有可能快速诊断活动性内脏利什曼病（VL），矛盾的是，这种测试尚未完全开发这种严重的疾病。利用超灵敏质谱技术，我们最近确定了从病人的尿液中的婴儿利什曼原虫（利什曼原虫）的病原体的蛋白质。这些发现构成了本项目的基础，该项目旨在利用这些独特的蛋白以及其他待鉴定的蛋白来开发用于准确诊断活动性VL的高度敏感和特异性抗原检测方法。 公共卫生相关性：该SBIR项目旨在开发一种用于内脏利什曼病（VL）诊断的抗原检测方法。该提案的一般基础是基于提议者在内脏利什曼病（VL）患者尿液中发现婴儿利什曼原虫蛋白。因为L.婴儿是VL的病原体，这些发现强烈支持开发用于诊断这种严重疾病的抗原检测方法。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Antigen detection assay in contrast to conventional serological test, detects disease status and not the host antibody response to the disease etiological agent. It can therefore be used for both diagnosis and disease treatment follow-up purposes. Antigen detection assay has been successfully used for the diagnosis of different infectious diseases including sore throat caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, hepatitis, pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae or Legionella pneumophilla, and amoebiasis. Although antigen detection assay has the potential to quickly diagnose active visceral leishmaniasis (VL), paradoxically this test has not yet been fully developed for this serious disease. Using the ultra-sensitive mass spectrometry technology we have recently identified proteins from the etiological agent of VL (Leishmania infantum) in the patients' urine. These findings constitute the foundation of the present project, which aims to use these unique proteins as well as other to be identified to develop a highly sensitive and specific antigen detection assay for the accurate diagnosis of active VL. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: This SBIR project aims to develop an antigen detection assay for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). The general foundation of the proposal is based on the proponent's group finding of Leishmania infantum proteins in the urine of patients with visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Because L. infantum is the etiological agent of VL these findings strongly support the development of an antigen detection assay for the diagnosis this serious disease.