A comprehensive multi-epitope recombinant protein strategy for accurate serological detection of Toxoplasma gondii
Amirreza Javadi Mamaghani1, Maryam Karimi2, Ali Haghighi3
1Hepatitis Research Center, Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran. amirdpara.beheshti@gmail.com.
Abstract:
Toxoplasma gondii is a globally prevalent zoonotic parasite responsible for toxoplasmosis. Accurate serological diagnosis remains challenging due to the lack of standardized, high-performance antigens. In this study, we designed a recombinant multi-epitope protein (ME-TG) by selecting B-cell epitopes from four immunodominant antigens: SAG1, GRA7, GRA4, and GRA14. The ME-TG construct was expressed in E. coli, purified, and evaluated using ELISA across 189 serum samples, including acute (n = 45), chronic (n = 38), healthy controls (n = 62), and individuals with other parasitic or bacterial infections (n = 42). The ME-TG-based ELISA demonstrated 98% sensitivity for both IgG and IgM detection, and 100% specificity, with no observed cross-reactivity. These findings highlight the diagnostic potential of ME-TG as a standardized serological marker for human toxoplasmosis. Further validation using larger, geographically diverse cohorts and additional T. gondii antigens is recommended to enhance clinical applicability.
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