1. Big is not better: Comparing two alpha-Gal-bearing glycotopes in neoglycoproteins as biomarkers for Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis infection.
- Author
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Montoya, Alba L., Gil, Eileni R., Vinales, Irodiel, Estevao, Igor L., Taboada, Paola, Torrico, Mary Cruz, Torrico, Faustino, Marco, Jorge Diego, Almeida, Igor C., and Michael, Katja
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LEISHMANIA , *CUTANEOUS leishmaniasis , *ENZYME-linked immunosorbent assay , *CARRIER proteins , *SKIN ulcers , *CIRCULATING tumor DNA - Abstract
The protozoan parasite Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis is among Latin America's most widespread Leishmania species and is responsible for tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL). This disease has multiple clinical presentations, with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) being the most frequent. It manifests as one or a few localized skin ulcers, which can spread to other body areas. Hence, early diagnosis and treatment, typically with pentavalent antimonials, is critical. Traditional diagnostic methods, like parasite culture, microscopy, or the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of the parasite DNA, have limitations due to the uneven distribution of parasites in biopsy samples. Nonetheless, studies have revealed high levels of parasite-specific anti-α-Gal antibodies in L. (V.) braziliensis- infected patients. Previously, we demonstrated that the neoglycoprotein NGP28b , consisting of the L. (Leishmania) major type-2 glycoinositolphospholipid (GIPL)-3-derived trisaccharide Gal p α1,6Gal p α1,3Gal f β conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA) via a linker, acts as a reliable serological biomarker (BMK) for L. (V.) braziliensis infection in Brazil. This indicates the presence of GIPL-3 or a similar structure in this parasite, and its terminal trisaccharide either functions as or is part of an immunodominant glycotope. Here, we explored whether extending the trisaccharide with a mannose unit would enhance its efficacy as a biomarker for the serological detection of L. (V.) braziliensis. We synthesized the tetrasaccharide Gal p α1,6Gal p α1,3Gal f β1,3Man p α(CH 2) 3 SH (G31 SH) and conjugated it to maleimide-functionalized BSA to afford NGP31b. When we assessed the efficacy of NGP28b and NGP31b by chemiluminescent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on a cohort of CL patients with L. (V.) braziliensis infection from Bolivia and Argentina against a healthy control group, both NGPs exhibited similar or identical sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy. This finding implies that the mannose moiety at the reducing end is not part of the glycotope recognized by the parasite-specific anti-α-Gal antibodies in patients' sera, nor does it exert a relevant influence on the terminal trisaccharide's conformation. Moreover, the mannose does not seem to inhibit glycan-antibody interactions. Therefore, NGP31b is a viable and dependable BMK for the serodiagnosis of CL caused by L. (V.) braziliensis. [Display omitted] • An α-Gal containing tetrasaccharide was synthesized and conjugated to a carrier protein resulting in neoglycoprotein NGP31b. • NGP31b can serve as a biomarker for New World cutaneous leishmaniasis and can distinguish from T. cruzi infection. • The reducing Man of the tetrasaccharide in NGP31b is not needed for the recognition by the patients' anti-α-Gal antibodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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