Multi-Epitope Protein as a Tool of Serological Diagnostic Development for HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 Infections

A multi-epitope protein expressed in a prokaryotic system, including epitopes of Env, Gag, and Tax proteins of both HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 was characterized for HTLV-1/2 serological screening. This tool can contribute to support the implementation of public policies to reduce HTLV-1/2 transmission in Bra...

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Published in:	Frontiers in public health Vol. 10; p. 884701
Main Authors:	Franco, Gabriela de Melo, da Rocha, Anderson Santos, Cox, Laura Jorge, Daian E Silva, Danielle Soares de Oliveira, da Silveira E Santos, Débora Marques, Martins, Marina Lobato, Romanelli, Luis Claudio, Ishak, Ricardo, Vallinoto, Antonio C R, Bomfim, Maria Rosa Q, Caterino-de-Araujo, Adele, Coelho-Dos-Reis, Jordana G A, da Fonseca, Flávio Guimarães, Barbosa-Stancioli, Edel Figueiredo
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 23-05-2022
Subjects:	co-infections HTLV-1 HTLV-2 multi-epitope protein Public Health serological diagnostic HTLV-1 multi-epitope protein serological diagnostic HTLV-2 co-infections
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Summary:	A multi-epitope protein expressed in a prokaryotic system, including epitopes of Env, Gag, and Tax proteins of both HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 was characterized for HTLV-1/2 serological screening. This tool can contribute to support the implementation of public policies to reduce HTLV-1/2 transmission in Brazil, the country with the highest absolute numbers of HTLV-1/2 infected individuals. The chimeric protein was tested in EIA using serum/plasma of HTLV-infected individuals and non-infected ones from four Brazilian states, including the North and Northeast regions (that present high prevalence of HTLV-1/2) and Southeast region (that presents intermediate prevalence rates) depicting different epidemiological context of HTLV-1/2 infection in our country. We enrolled samples from Pará ( = 114), Maranhão ( = 153), Minas Gerais ( = 225) and São Paulo ( = 59) states; they are from blood donors' candidates (Pará and Minas Gerais), pregnant women (Maranhão) and HIV+/high risk for sexually transmitted infection (STI; São Paulo). Among the HTLV-1/2 positive sera, there were co-infections with viral (HTLV-1 + HTLV-2, HIV, HCV, and HBV), bacterial ( ) and parasitic ( , and ) pathogens related to HTLV-1/2 co-morbidities that can contribute to inconclusive diagnostic results. Sera positive for HIV were included among the HTLV-1/2 negative samples. Considering both HTLV-1 and HTLV-2-infected samples from all states and different groups (blood donor candidates, pregnant women, and individuals with high risk for STI), mono or co-infected and HTLV-/HIV+, the test specificity ranged from 90.09 to 95.19% and the sensitivity from 82.41 to 92.36% with high accuracy (ROC AUC = 0.9552). This multi-epitope protein showed great potential to be used in serological screening of HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 in different platforms, even taking into account the great regional variation and different profile of HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 mono or co-infected individuals.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 Reviewed by: Anna Nishiya, Fundação Pró-Sangue Hemocentro de São Paulo, Brazil; Sebastián Blanco, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina; Maria Grazia Romanelli, University of Verona, Italy This article was submitted to Infectious Diseases – Surveillance, Prevention and Treatment, a section of the journal Frontiers in Public Health Edited by: Juarez Antonio Simões Quaresma, Universidade do Estado do Pará, Brazil
ISSN:	2296-2565 2296-2565
DOI:	10.3389/fpubh.2022.884701