Author:
Csicsay František,Flores-Ramirez Gabriela,Zuñiga-Navarrete Fernando,Bartošová Mária,Fučíková Alena,Pajer Petr,Dresler Jiří,Škultéty Ľudovít,Quevedo-Diaz Marco
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Rickettsialpox is a febrile illness caused by the mite-borne pathogen Rickettsia akari. Several cases of this disease are reported worldwide annually. Nevertheless, the relationship between the immunogenicity of R. akari and disease development is still poorly understood. Thus, misdiagnosis is frequent. Our study is aiming to identify immunogenic proteins that may improve disease recognition and enhance subsequent treatment. To achieve this goal, two proteomics methodologies were applied, followed by immunoblot confirmation.
Results
Three hundred and sixteen unique proteins were identified in the whole-cell extract of R. akari. The most represented protein groups were found to be those involved in translation, post-translational modifications, energy production, and cell wall development. A significant number of proteins belonged to amino acid transport and intracellular trafficking. Also, some proteins affecting the virulence were detected. In silico analysis of membrane enriched proteins revealed 25 putative outer membrane proteins containing beta-barrel structure and 11 proteins having a secretion signal peptide sequence. Using rabbit and human sera, various immunoreactive proteins were identified from which the 44 kDa uncharacterized protein (A8GP63) has demonstrated a unique detection capability. It positively distinguished the sera of patients with Rickettsialpox from other rickettsiae positive human sera.
Conclusion
Our proteomic analysis certainly contributed to the lack of knowledge of R. akari pathogenesis. The result obtained may also serve as a guideline for a more accurate diagnosis of rickettsial diseases. The identified 44 kDa uncharacterized protein can be certainly used as a unique marker of rickettsialpox or as a target molecule for the development of more effective treatment.
Funder
Vedecká Grantová Agentúra MŠVVaŠ SR a SAV
Ministerstvo Vnitra České Republiky
Ministry of defense of Czech Republic
Ministerstvo Školství, Mládeže a Tělovýchovy
Agentúra na Podporu Výskumu a Vývoja
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Microbiology (medical),Microbiology
Cited by
5 articles.
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