Abstract
Purpose: :
Toxoplasma gondii
Methods: :
Blood serum samples were collected from four groups of nine patients each; healthy, uveitic (toxaoplasma IgG -), one ocular toxoplasmic event and recurrent events. Serum was fractionated and the first and sixth fractions were retained. Protein profile was generated by surface enhanced laser desorption/ ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS). Biomarker Pattern Software was used to develop tree-based decision classifications. Data were analyzed for total number of detected peaks (S/N > 20).
Results: :
A total of eight markers were selected for their ability to differentiate patients into the four groups, with an S/N >20. Proteins 2755 kDa, 3893 kDa and 28032 kDa had their expression down regulated and where as proteins 4575 kDa, 6182 kDa, 11726 kDa, 11910 kDa and 13903 kDa were up regulated. When protein 6182 and 3893 are used in conjunction their sensitivity and specificity of grouping individuals into their respective disease group was 100 % in the blind testing set.
Conclusions: :
This pilot study sough to elucidate blood serum biomarkers for ocular toxoplasmosis. The discovered biomarkers are able to differentiate individuals with ocluar toxoplasmosis from those the two groups (healthy and non-toxo uveitis). Furthermore, following statistical analysis, two proteins were identified which can effectively group individuals into either one or multi-episodic ocular toxoplasmosis. As no biomarker for ocular toxoplasmosis exists currently, this study demonstrates the potential for SELDI-TOF-MS technology to identify novel biomarkers for this disease.
Keywords: toxoplasmosis • uveitis-clinical/animal model • proteomics