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Updated: Jan 25, 2026
Author Spotlight: Advancing the Analysis of Plasma Extracellular Vesicle Proteome for Cardiovascular Biomarker Studies
Published on: January 31, 2025
Plasma proteome profiling reveals differentially expressed lipopolysaccharide-binding protein among leptospirosis
Cheng-Yee Fish-Low1, Leslie Thian Lung Than1, King-Hwa Ling2
1Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Background:
Human leptospirosis, or commonly known as "rat urine disease" is a zoonotic disease that is caused by the bacteria called Leptospira sp. The incidence rate of leptospirosis has been under-reported due to its unspecific clinical symptoms and the limitations of current laboratory diagnostic methods. Leptospirosis can be effectively treated with antibiotics in the early stage, and it is a curable disease but the accuracy to diagnose the infection is rarely achieved.
Methods:
The present pilot study investigated plasma protein profiles of leptospirosis patients and compared them against two control groups which consisted of dengue patients and healthy individuals. The plasma protein digests were analyzed using shotgun approach by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Protein abundances were estimated from the exponentially modified protein abundance index (emPAI) values. Plasma proteins in leptospirosis patients with at least two-fold differential expression compared to dengue and healthy control groups (p < 0.05, ANOVA) were identified.
Results:
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein (LBP) was found to be the only protein that has significant different expression between leptospirosis and the two control groups. The expression levels of leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein (LRG1) and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) were different significantly between leptospirosis and healthy group but not to the dengue control group.
Conclusion:
This is the first plasma proteome-based study on leptospirosis that reports the differential expression of LBP compared to both dengue and healthy controls, which has not been previously reported in the context of leptospirosis.
Insights
This study identified lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) as a key plasma protein biomarker for diagnosing leptospirosis (rat urine disease). Early diagnosis of this bacterial infection is crucial for effective antibiotic treatment.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Proteomics
Background:
- Leptospirosis, a zoonotic disease caused by Leptospira sp., is often underdiagnosed due to non-specific symptoms and limited diagnostic methods.
- Early antibiotic treatment is effective, but accurate diagnosis remains a challenge.
- This study addresses the need for improved diagnostic tools for leptospirosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate plasma protein profiles in leptospirosis patients.
- To identify potential protein biomarkers for leptospirosis diagnosis.
- To compare leptospirosis patients with dengue patients and healthy individuals.
Main Methods:
- Pilot study analyzing plasma protein profiles using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).
- Shotgun proteomics approach to quantify protein abundances via exponentially modified protein abundance index (emPAI).
- Statistical analysis (ANOVA) to identify differentially expressed proteins (p < 0.05).
Main Results:
- Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein (LBP) showed significantly different expression in leptospirosis patients compared to both dengue patients and healthy controls.
- Leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein (LRG1) and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) levels were significantly different between leptospirosis and healthy groups, but not the dengue group.
Conclusions:
- This is the first plasma proteome study to report differential LBP expression in leptospirosis relative to dengue and healthy controls.
- LBP shows potential as a diagnostic biomarker for leptospirosis.
- Further research is warranted to validate LBP as a reliable diagnostic marker.
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