Revisiting the antigen markers of vector-borne parasitic diseases identified by immunomics: identification and application to disease control

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Protein microarray is a promising immunomic approach for identifying biomarkers. Based on our previous study that reviewed parasite antigens and recent parasitic omics research, this article expands to include information on vector-borne parasitic diseases (VBPDs), namely, malaria, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, babesiosis, trypanosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, and onchocerciasis.

Areas covered

We revisit and systematically summarize antigen markers of vector-borne parasites identified by the immunomic approach and discuss the latest advances in identifying antigens for the rational development of diagnostics and vaccines. The applications and challenges of this approach for VBPD control are also discussed.

Expert opinion

The immunomic approach has enabled the identification and/or validation of antigen markers for vaccine development, diagnosis, disease surveillance, and treatment. However, this approach presents several challenges, including limited sample size, variability in antigen expression, false-positive results, complexity of omics data, validation and reproducibility, and heterogeneity of diseases. In addition, antigen involvement in host immune evasion and antigen sensitivity/specificity are major issues in its application. Despite these limitations, this approach remains promising for controlling VBPD. Advances in technology and data analysis methods should continue to improve candidate antigen identification, as well as the use of a multiantigen approach in diagnostic and vaccine development for VBPD control.

KEYWORDS:

• Immunoproteins
• protein microarrays
• parasitic diseases
• serodiagnosis
• vaccine candidates

Article highlights

• High -throughput (HTP) protein microarray is a promising approach for identifying biomarkers for vector-borne parasitic disease (VBPD) control.

• Antigen data were collected from articles published in English between April 2006 and December 2022 from PubMed and Web of Science using the following key words: ‘immunomics,’ ‘immunoproteomics,’ ‘protein microarrays,’ ‘proteome array,’ ‘plasmodium,’ ‘leishmania,’ ‘tryromycin,’ ‘babesia,’ ‘antigens,’ and ‘vector-borne parasitic diseases.’

• A total of 192 published articles were screened, and the records were further sorted by the advanced key word ‘antigens.’ Seventy-seven records of protein microarray studies that focused on Plasmodium, Schistosoma, Leishmania, Trypanosoma, Babesia, and filaria worms were obtained.

• Although the immunomic approach has challenges, it enables the identification and/or validation of antigen markers for vaccine development, diagnosis, disease surveillance, and treatment.

• Advances in technology and data analysis methods are needed to improve candidate antigen identification. In addition, the combination of multiple antigens could be helpful for detecting antibodies against VBPD infections and developing vaccines for controlling VBPDs to accelerate elimination.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties

Reviewer disclosures

One peer reviewer on this manuscript have received an honorarium from Expert Review of Proteomics for their review work. The remaining reviewers have no other relevant financial relationships or otherwise to disclose.

Author contributions

X Zhou and QQ Zhang conceived the study, collected and analyzed the data, and drafted the manuscript. JH Chen, JF Dai and K Kassegne conceived the project, provided technical support for data collection and analysis and revised the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This manuscript was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant No. 81601784], the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, the International Joint Laboratory on Tropical Diseases Control in Greater Mekong Subregion [Grant No. 21410750200] and the National Key Research and Development Program of China [Grant No. 2021YFC2300800 and 2021YFC2300804]. This project was also supported by the NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology [Grant No. WSBKFKT-201710].