Identification of protein candidates for the serodiagnosis of Q fever endocarditis by an immunoproteomic approach

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2009 Mar;28(3):287-95. doi: 10.1007/s10096-008-0621-4. Epub 2008 Sep 17.

Abstract

Q fever is a worldwide zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii bacterium. Two clinical forms are present: acute Q fever and chronic disease, including endocarditis. Currently, the diagnosis of Q fever endocarditis is based on the detection of anti-phase I antibodies. The objective of the study was to identify candidate proteins for the serological diagnosis of endocarditis due to C. burnetii. The immunoreactivities of sera from 12 patients with C. burnetii infections, including the sera from patients with endocarditis and with the acute clinical form of Q fever, were compared with those of three control subjects who did not have Q fever. We identified 29 candidate antigenic proteins by mass spectrometry. Two proteins, arginine repressor and OmpH, were recognised exclusively by the sera of patients with Q fever endocarditis. These proteins are promising candidates for the development of serodiagnostic assays for Q fever endocarditis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
  • Antigens, Bacterial / chemistry
  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology*
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / immunology
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / immunology
  • Coxiella burnetii / chemistry
  • Coxiella burnetii / immunology*
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / diagnosis*
  • Endocarditis, Bacterial / microbiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Middle Aged
  • Q Fever / complications*
  • Q Fever / diagnosis*
  • Q Fever / immunology
  • Repressor Proteins / chemistry
  • Repressor Proteins / immunology
  • Serologic Tests
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • ArgR protein, Bacteria
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • ompH protein, bacteria