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Jeske R, Becker N, Kroeller L, Mentzer AJ, Brenner N, Guy E, Waterboer T, Butt J. Advancing Toxoplasma gondii multiplex serology. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0361823. [PMID: 38385741 PMCID: PMC10986549 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03618-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is a highly prevalent pathogen causing zoonotic infections with significant public health implications. Yet, our understanding of long-term consequences, associated risk factors, and the potential role of co-infections is still limited. Seroepidemiological studies are a valuable approach to address open questions and enhance our insights into T. gondii across human populations. Here, we present substantial advancements to our previously developed T. gondii multiplex serology assay, which is based on the immunodominant antigens SAG1 and P22. While our previous bead-based assay quantified antibody levels against multiple targets in a high-throughput fashion requiring only a small sample volume, impaired assay characteristics emerged in sample dilutions beyond 1:100 and when being transferred to magnetic beads. Both are now critical for inclusion in large-scale seroprevalence studies. Using the truncated versions, SAG1D1 and P22trunc, significantly enhanced signal-to-noise ratios were achieved with almost perfect concordance with the gold-standard Sabin-Feldman dye test. In sample dilutions of 1:100, the diagnostic accuracy of SAG1D1 and P22trunc reached sensitivities (true positive rates) of 98% and 94% and specificities (true negative rates) of 93% and 95%, respectively. Importantly, performance metrics were reproducible in a 1:1,000 sample dilution, using both magnetic and nonmagnetic beads. Thresholds for seropositivity were derived from finite mixture models and performed equally well as thresholds by receiver operating characteristic analysis. Our improved multiplex serology assay is therefore able to generate robust and reproducible performance metrics under various assay conditions. Inclusion of T. gondii antibody measurements with other pathogens, in multiplex serology panels will allow for large-scale seroepidemiological research. IMPORTANCE Toxoplasma gondii is a pathogen of significant public health concern due to its widespread prevalence and zoonotic potential. However, our understanding of key aspects, such as risk factors for infection and disease, potential outcomes, and their trends, remains limited. Seroepidemiological studies in large cohorts are invaluable for addressing these questions but remain scarce. Our revised multiplex serology assay equips researchers with a powerful tool capable of delivering T. gondii serum antibody measurements with high sensitivity and specificity under diverse assay conditions. This advancement paves the way for the integration of T. gondii antibody measurements into multi-pathogen multiplex serology panels, promising valuable insights into public health and pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rima Jeske
- Division of Infections and Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nico Becker
- Division of Infections and Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biotechnology, Mannheim University of Applied Sciences, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Lea Kroeller
- Division of Infections and Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Nicole Brenner
- Division of Infections and Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Edward Guy
- Toxoplasma Reference Unit, Public Health Wales Microbiology, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - Tim Waterboer
- Division of Infections and Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julia Butt
- Division of Infections and Cancer Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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Santiago Sáez A, García Martín Á, Gómez Serrano M, Liaño Riera M, Minoretti P. A Comparative Study of Seroprevalence of 17 Common Pathogens Among Airline Pilots and Office Workers. Cureus 2023; 15:e50778. [PMID: 38239511 PMCID: PMC10795586 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.50778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The variation in infection risk among individuals is thought to be partially influenced by occupational factors. This study aims to investigate the seropositivity rates of 17 common infectious agents in male airline pilots (APs), a professional group known to experience a high prevalence of cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases. Methodology In our study, we employed a case-control design with 100 male APs as cases, matched by age, sex, and tenure (i.e., at least five years of service) to 100 male office workers (OWs) who served as controls. We measured the IgG antibody levels to 17 pathogens using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, including herpes simplex virus 1, herpes simplex virus 2, varicella-zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, human herpesvirus 6, human herpesvirus 7, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, Toxoplasma gondii, human T-lymphotropic virus 1, BK virus, John Cunningham virus, Merkel cell polyomavirus, human papillomavirus 16, human papillomavirus 18, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Helicobacter pylori. The determination of seropositivity cutoffs for each pathogen was made in accordance with the guidelines provided by the respective kit manufacturers. Results The seropositivity rates for the 17 pathogens ranged from 1% for human T-lymphotropic virus 1 to 94% for varicella-zoster virus and were similar in both professions, except for herpes simplex virus 1 and Helicobacter pylori, which were more prevalent in APs. Conclusions Our findings suggest a higher prevalence of previous infections with herpes simplex virus 1 and Helicobacter pylori in APs compared to OWs. These infections may be associated with the prevalence of specific non-communicable diseases in this professional group. However, additional longitudinal studies are needed to substantiate this hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Santiago Sáez
- Legal Medicine, Hospital Clinico San Carlos, Madrid, ESP
- Legal Medicine, Psychiatry, and Pathology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, ESP
| | - Ángel García Martín
- Legal Medicine, Psychiatry, and Pathology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, ESP
| | - Manuel Gómez Serrano
- Legal Medicine, Psychiatry, and Pathology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, ESP
| | - Miryam Liaño Riera
- Legal Medicine, Psychiatry, and Pathology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, ESP
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Yao P, Kartsonaki C, Butt J, Jeske R, de Martel C, Plummer M, Guo Y, Clark S, Walters RG, Chen Y, Avery D, Lv J, Yu C, Wang H, Hill M, Peto R, Li L, Waterboer T, Chen Z, Millwood IY, Yang L. Helicobacter pylori multiplex serology and risk of non-cardia and cardia gastric cancer: a case-cohort study and meta-analysis. Int J Epidemiol 2023; 52:1197-1208. [PMID: 36913255 PMCID: PMC10396410 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyad007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori infection is a major cause of non-cardia gastric cancer (NCGC), but uncertainty remains about the associations between sero-positivity to different H. pylori antigens and risk of NCGC and cardia gastric cancer (CGC) in different populations. METHODS A case-cohort study in China included ∼500 each of incident NCGC and CGC cases and ∼2000 subcohort participants. Sero-positivity to 12 H. pylori antigens was measured in baseline plasma samples using a multiplex assay. Hazard ratios (HRs) of NCGC and CGC for each marker were estimated using Cox regression. These were further meta-analysed with studies using same assay. RESULTS In the subcohort, sero-positivity for 12 H. pylori antigens varied from 11.4% (HpaA) to 70.8% (CagA). Overall, 10 antigens showed significant associations with risk of NCGC (adjusted HRs: 1.33 to 4.15), and four antigens with CGC (HRs: 1.50 to 2.34). After simultaneous adjustment for other antigens, positive associations remained significant for NCGC (CagA, HP1564, HP0305) and CGC (CagA, HP1564, HyuA). Compared with CagA sero-positive only individuals, those who were positive for all three antigens had an adjusted HR of 5.59 (95% CI 4.68-6.66) for NCGC and 2.17 (95% CI 1.54-3.05) for CGC. In the meta-analysis of NCGC, the pooled relative risk for CagA was 2.96 (95% CI 2.58-3.41) [Europeans: 5.32 (95% CI 4.05-6.99); Asians: 2.41 (95% CI 2.05-2.83); Pheterogeneity<0.0001]. Similar pronounced population differences were also evident for GroEL, HP1564, HcpC and HP0305. In meta-analyses of CGC, two antigens (CagA, HP1564) were significantly associated with a higher risk in Asians but not Europeans. CONCLUSIONS Sero-positivity to several H. pylori antigens was significantly associated with an increased risk of NCGC and CGC, with varying effects between Asian and European populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pang Yao
- Clinical Trial Service Unit & Epidemiological Studies Unit (CTSU), Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Christiana Kartsonaki
- Clinical Trial Service Unit & Epidemiological Studies Unit (CTSU), Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Medical Research Council Population Health Research Unit (MRC PHRU), Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Julia Butt
- Infections and Cancer Epidemiology Division, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rima Jeske
- Infections and Cancer Epidemiology Division, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Catherine de Martel
- Early Detection, Prevention and Infections Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
| | - Martyn Plummer
- Department of Statistics, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Yu Guo
- National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Sarah Clark
- Clinical Trial Service Unit & Epidemiological Studies Unit (CTSU), Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Medical Research Council Population Health Research Unit (MRC PHRU), Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Robin G Walters
- Clinical Trial Service Unit & Epidemiological Studies Unit (CTSU), Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Medical Research Council Population Health Research Unit (MRC PHRU), Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Yiping Chen
- Clinical Trial Service Unit & Epidemiological Studies Unit (CTSU), Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Medical Research Council Population Health Research Unit (MRC PHRU), Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Daniel Avery
- Clinical Trial Service Unit & Epidemiological Studies Unit (CTSU), Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jun Lv
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Center for Public Health and Epidemic Preparedness & Response, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Canqing Yu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Center for Public Health and Epidemic Preparedness & Response, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Wang
- NCDs Prevention and Control Department, Zhejiang CDC, Zhejiang, China
| | - Michael Hill
- Clinical Trial Service Unit & Epidemiological Studies Unit (CTSU), Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Medical Research Council Population Health Research Unit (MRC PHRU), Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Richard Peto
- Clinical Trial Service Unit & Epidemiological Studies Unit (CTSU), Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Liming Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Center for Public Health and Epidemic Preparedness & Response, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Tim Waterboer
- Infections and Cancer Epidemiology Division, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Zhengming Chen
- Clinical Trial Service Unit & Epidemiological Studies Unit (CTSU), Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Medical Research Council Population Health Research Unit (MRC PHRU), Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Iona Y Millwood
- Clinical Trial Service Unit & Epidemiological Studies Unit (CTSU), Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Medical Research Council Population Health Research Unit (MRC PHRU), Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ling Yang
- Clinical Trial Service Unit & Epidemiological Studies Unit (CTSU), Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Medical Research Council Population Health Research Unit (MRC PHRU), Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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