Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
  • G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
  • G01N33/50—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing
  • G01N33/53—Immunoassay; Biospecific binding assay; Materials therefor
  • G01N33/569—Immunoassay; Biospecific binding assay; Materials therefor for microorganisms, e.g. protozoa, bacteria, viruses
  • G01N33/56905—Protozoa
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K14/00—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof
  • C07K14/435—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans
  • C07K14/44—Peptides having more than 20 amino acids; Gastrins; Somatostatins; Melanotropins; Derivatives thereof from animals; from humans from protozoa
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K16/00—Immunoglobulins [IG], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies
  • C07K16/18—Immunoglobulins [IG], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans
  • C07K16/20—Immunoglobulins [IG], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans from protozoa
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
  • G01N33/48—Biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Haemocytometers
  • G01N33/50—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing
  • G01N33/68—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing involving proteins, peptides or amino acids
  • G01N33/6893—Chemical analysis of biological material, e.g. blood, urine; Testing involving biospecific ligand binding methods; Immunological testing involving proteins, peptides or amino acids related to diseases not provided for elsewhere
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
  • G01N2800/00—Detection or diagnosis of diseases
  • G01N2800/52—Predicting or monitoring the response to treatment, e.g. for selection of therapy based on assay results in personalised medicine; Prognosis

Definitions

• the present invention provides methods of detectinga Babesia infection in a subject.
• the method includes: detecting whether one or more secreted antigens selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1-62 are present in a biological sample collected from the subject; wherein detecting presence of one or more of the antigens in the biological sample indicates that the subject has a Babesia infection.
• the method includes: detecting one or more secreted antigens selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1- 62 in a biological sample collected from the subject; wherein detecting one or more of the antigens indicates the presence of a Babesia infection.
• the Babesia infection comprises Babesia microti or Babesia duncani.
• the biological sample comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of: a blood sample, an erythrocyte sample, a leukocyte sample, a plasma sample, a urine sample, a saliva sample, and/or one or more combinations thereof.
• the one or more antigens further comprises BmGPI12.
• the subject is a human.
• the subject is a mammal known to carry a Babesia parasite.
• the one or more antigens is detected by one or more antibody-based techniques selected from the group consisting of: Western blot, immunofluorescent assay, IEM, ELISA, PCR amplification-based immunoassay and immunoprecipitation.
• the present invention provides a diagnostic tool for identifying or diagnosing a babesiosis infection.
• the tool comprises: an assay platform, an immunologic agent having specificity for one or more Babesia antigens selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1-62.
• the babesiosis infection comprises a Babesia microti infection or a Babesia duncani infection.
• the assay platform comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of: an enzyme-based assay, a radioimmunoassay, a PCR amplification-based immunoassay, a fluorogenic immunoassay, a chemiluminescence-based assay, immunoblotting assay, and combinations thereof.
• the immunologic agent comprises one or more of antibodies or antibody fragments.
• the present invention provides a method of treating, ameliorating, and/or preventing a Babesia infection in a subject in need thereof.
• the method comprises: obtaining a first sample from a subject at a first time point; assaying the sample using a diagnostic tool contemplated herein to detect the presence or absence of an infection relative to a comparator control, administering one or more therapeutic agents to the subject; obtaining a second sample from the subject at a second time point, wherein the second time point comprises one or more time points after the first time point; and assaying the second sample obtained from the subject at the one or more second time points using the diagnostic tool contemplated herein to detect the presence or absence of an infection relative to a comparator control.
• the sample comprises a blood sample.
• the infection comprises a Babesia microti infection or a Babesia duncani infection.
• the first time point is before administration of the therapeutic agent.
• the second time point comprises an interval after a therapeutic agent is administered.
• the present invention provides a method of treating, ameliorating, and/or preventing a Babesia infection in a subject.
• the method comprises: detecting presence of one or more peptides selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1- 62 in a biological sample collected from the subject; and administering to the subject at least one anti -protozoan therapeutic agent.
• FIGS. 1 A-1B demonstrate that BmGPI12 is secreted into the erythrocyte cytoplasm and subsequently into the extracellular environment of the B. zzzzcro/z-infected erythrocyte.
• FIG. 1 A depicts immunoblotting analysis using pre-immune (PI) and anti-BmGPI12 immune rabbit sera on fractions of uninfected erythrocytes (UI) or erythrocytes infected with B.
• PI pre-immune
• UI uninfected erythrocytes
• microti strain LabSl. S mouse plasma
• H hemolysate
• the P fraction consists primarily of erythrocyte membrane.
• the P fraction includes both erythrocyte membrane and protein extracts from isolated parasites.
• the erythrocyte membrane protein TER-119 (52 kDa) was detected using an anti-TER-119 monoclonal antibody only in the P fractions from uninfected and B. microti- infected red blood cells.
• IB depicts immunofluorescence assay on mouse erythrocytes infected with the LabSl strain of B. microti.
• BmGPI12 was labelled with polyclonal anti-BmGPI12 antibodies and could be observed within the parasite cytoplasm, the parasite plasma membrane as well as in the erythrocyte cytoplasm and within individual vesicles (IV) and tubes of vesicles (TOVs) (indicated by arrowheads).
• Monoclonal antibodies against TER-119 were used to label the plasma membrane of the infected mouse erythrocytes.
• the DAPI staining was applied to verify the presence of parasites within the erythrocytes by labelling parasitic nuclear DNA. Staining of control uninfected red blood cells is shown. Scale bars: 3 pm.
• FIGS. 2A-2C demonstrate that B. microti develops an interlacement of vesicles (IO V) system in the cytoplasm of the infected erythrocytes.
• FIG. 2A depicts results indicating that giemsa-stained blood smears from B. /zz/cr // -infected erythrocytes with representative images of Lab SI -infected erythrocytes revealed tubular structures within the erythrocyte cytoplasm (see arrowheads). Scale bar: 3 pm.
• FIGS. 2B and 2C depict analysis of blood smears from four infected mice over a 13 -day period following infection with B. microti LabSl strain.
• FIG. 2B depicts parasitemia levels in individual mice. A total of 5000 erythrocytes were analyzed per smear (Mean ⁇ SEM).
• FIG. 2C depicts a proportion of each morphological form detected in the blood smears at days 3, 5, 7, 10 and 13 post-infection. A total of 20 images were analyzed per smear at a given day (Mean ⁇ SEM).
• FIGS. 3A-3C demonstrate that B. microti develops an IOV system in the cytoplasm of the infected erythrocytes.
• FIG. 3A depicts that EPON-embedded, Lab SI -infected
• FIGS. 3B and 3C depict a comparison of ultrathin sections of EPON-embedded infected (FIG. 3B) and uninfected (FIG. 3C) erythrocytes.
• IV individual vesicle
• P parasite
• PPM parasite plasma membrane
• R ribosomes
• RBCC red blood cell cytoplasm
• RBCM red blood cell membrane
• TOV tube of vesicles.
• FIGS. 4A-4D demonstrate that BmGPI12 is localized to the parasite plasma membrane and associated with vesicles and tubules.
• FIG. 4C depicts a schematic diagram showing the steps in the ultracentrifugation of plasma samples collected from B. w/crori-infected mice.
• FIG. 4D depicts immunoblot analyses using pre-immune (PI) serum, and anti-BmGPI12 or anti-TER-119 antibodies on either intact plasma (PL) collected from mice infected with B. microti Lab SI strain or on 2 fractions (supernatant: Us, and pellet: Up) of plasma following ultracentrifugation at 120,000 x g ⁇
• FIGS. 4E-4F depict immunoelectron microscopic analysis of the plasma membrane fraction (Up) from mice infected with . microti LabSl using anti-BmGPI12 antibodies coupled to 10 nm gold particles.
• FIGS. 5A-5E demonstrate vesicle-mediated secretion of BmIPA48 antigen by B. microti.
• FIG. 5 A depicts distribution of BmIPA48 in the plasma (S), hemolysate (H) and membrane (P) fractions isolated from blood of uninfected or B. microti (LabSl)-infected erythrocytes was determined by western blotting using polyclonal antibodies against
• FIG. 5B depicts immunoblot analysis using pre-immune and anti-BmIPA48 sera on either intact plasma (PL) collected from mice infected with B. microti LabSl strain or on 2 fractions (supernatant: Us, and pellet: Up) of plasma following ultracentrifugation at 120,000 x g.
• BmIPA48 is associated primarily with the membrane fraction of plasma.
• FIG. 5C depicts
• BmIPA48 was labelled with polyclonal antibodies and could be detected within the parasite and in discrete IV within the cytoplasm of the infected erythrocyte.
• Monoclonal antibodies against TER-119 were applied to label the erythrocyte plasma membrane and the DAPI labelling verified the presence of parasitic DNA in the otherwise enucleated host- erythrocytes. Staining of control uninfected red blood cells is shown.
• FIGS. 5D and 5E depict representative images of immunoelectron micrographs of B. microti Lab SI -infected mouse erythrocytes.
• Ultrathin sections of high pressure frozen and Durcupan resin-embedded infected erythrocytes were immunolabeled with anti-BmIPA48 antibodies coupled to 10 nm gold particles.
• IV individual vesicle
• P parasite
• PPM parasite plasma membrane
• RBCC red blood cell cytoplasm
• RBCM red blood cell membrane
• TOV tube of vesicles.
• FIGS. 6A-6B depicts a model of vesicular-mediated export of antigens by B. microti.
• FIG. 7 demonstrates BmGPI12 distribution in plasma and erythrocytes infected with the PRA99 strain of B. microti.
• S mouse plasma
• H hemolysate
• P membrane fractions collected following saponin treatment of erythrocytes.
• the P fraction consists primarily of erythrocyte membrane.
• the P fraction includes both erythrocyte membrane and protein extracts from isolated parasites.
• the erythrocyte membrane protein TER-119 (52 kDa) was detected using an anti-TER-119 monoclonal antibody only in the P fractions from uninfected and B. microti- infected red blood cells.
• FIG. 8 demonstrates distribution of the apical end protein BmRON2 in B. microti- infected cells.
• A Immunoblotting analysis using pre-immune (PI) and anti-BmRON2 polyclonal antibodies on fractions of uninfected erythrocytes (UI) or erythrocytes infected with B. microti strain LabSl. S: mouse plasma, H: hemolysate;
• P membrane fractions collected following saponin treatment of erythrocytes. Consistent with previous studies, BmRON2 (163 kDa) undergoes proteolytic degradation in infected cells.
• the 163 kDa band is found both in the P and S fractions but not in the H fraction consistent with the presence of BmRON2 on the surface of daughter parasites and its release to the plasma following rupture of the infected erythrocyte. No signal was detected when the pre-immune (PI) rabbit serum was used for immunodetection.
• PI pre-immune
• FIGS. 9A-9C demonstrate electron microscopy evidence for IO V system emerging from the parasite plasma membrane.
• P parasite
• PPM parasite plasma membrane
• RBCC red blood cell cytoplasm
• RBCM red blood cell membrane
• TOV tube of vesicles.
• FIGS. 10A-10B depict Western blot and immunofluorescence analysis of B. duncani- infected samples and analyzed using antibodies against BdGPI2.
• FIG. 10A depicts results from a preliminary immunoblot assay using anti-BdGPI2 peptide antibodies (raised in rabbits) on plasma (PL) from uninfected (U) or B. duncani -infected (I) mice (in vivo) or on supernatant (Sup) or parasite fraction (P) from in vvV/ -cultured B. duncani in human red blood cells (I) or control uninfected human red blood cells (U).
• FIG. 10B depicts
• FIGS. 11 A-l IB depict Western blot and immunofluorescence analysis of B. duncani- infected samples analyzed using antibodies against BdMGF3-l/HSP-70 precurser.
• FIG. 11 A depicts preliminary immunoblot assay using anti-BdHsp70-2 peptide antibodies (raised in rabbits) on plasma (PL) from uninfected (U) or B. duncani -infected (I) mice (in vivo) or on supernatant (Sup) or parasite fraction (P) from in vvV/ -cultured B. duncani in human red blood cells (I) or control uninfected human red blood cells (U).
• FIG. 1 IB depicts
• to“alleviate” a disease, defect, disorder or condition means reducing the severity of one or more symptoms of the disease, defect, disorder or condition.
• antigen as used herein is defined as a molecule that provokes an immune response. This immune response may involve either antibody production, or the activation of specific immunologically-competent cells, or both.
• antibody production or the activation of specific immunologically-competent cells, or both.
• any macromolecule including virtually all proteins or peptides, can serve as an antigen.
• antigens can be derived from recombinant or genomic DNA.
• any DNA which comprises a nucleotide sequences or a partial nucleotide sequence encoding a protein that elicits an immune response therefore encodes an “antigen” as that term is used herein.
• an antigen need not be encoded solely by a full length nucleotide sequence of a gene.
• the present invention includes, but is not limited to, the use of partial nucleotide sequences of more than one gene and that these nucleotide sequences are arranged in various combinations to elicit the desired immune response.
• an antigen need not be encoded by a“gene” at all. It is readily apparent that an antigen can be generated synthesized or can be derived from a biological sample.
• Such a biological sample can include, but is not limited to a tissue sample, a tumor sample, a cell or a biological fluid.
• epitope is defined as a small chemical molecule on an antigen that can elicit an immune response, inducing B and/or T cell responses.
• An antigen can have one or more epitopes. Most antigens have many epitopes; i.e., they are multivalent. In general, an epitope is roughly about 10 amino acids and/or sugars in size. Preferably, the epitope is about 4-18 amino acids, more preferably about 5-16 amino acids, and even more preferably 6-14 amino acids, more preferably about 7-12, and most preferably about 8-10 amino acids.
• a peptide used in the present invention can be an epitope.
• immune response is defined as a cellular response to an antigen that occurs when lymphocytes identify antigenic molecules as foreign and induce the formation of antibodies and/or activate lymphocytes to remove the antigen.
• “modified” as used herein is meant a changed state or structure of a molecule or cell of the invention.
• Molecules may be modified in many ways, including chemically, structurally, and functionally.
• Cells may be modified through the introduction of nucleic acids.
• moduleating mediating a detectable increase or decrease in the level of a response in a subject compared with the level of a response in the subject in the absence of a treatment or compound, and/or compared with the level of a response in an otherwise identical but untreated subject.
• the term encompasses perturbing and/or affecting a native signal or response thereby mediating a beneficial therapeutic response in a subject, preferably, a human.
• polypeptide As used herein, the terms“peptide,”“polypeptide,” and“protein” are used interchangeably, and refer to a compound comprised of amino acid residues covalently linked by peptide bonds.
• a protein or peptide must contain at least two amino acids, and no limitation is placed on the maximum number of amino acids that can comprise a protein’s or peptide’s sequence.
• Polypeptides include any peptide or protein comprising two or more amino acids joined to each other by peptide bonds.
• Polypeptides include, for example, biologically active fragments, substantially homologous polypeptides, oligopeptides, homodimers, heterodimers, variants of polypeptides, modified polypeptides, derivatives, analogs, fusion proteins, among others.
• the polypeptides include natural peptides, recombinant peptides, synthetic peptides, or a combination thereof.
• an antibody which recognizes a specific antigen, but does not substantially recognize or bind other molecules in a sample.
• an antibody that specifically binds to an antigen from one species may also bind to that antigen from one or more species. But, such cross species reactivity does not itself alter the classification of an antibody as specific.
• an antibody that specifically binds to an antigen may also bind to different allelic forms of the antigen. However, such cross reactivity does not itself alter the classification of an antibody as specific.
• the terms“specific binding” or“specifically binding,” can be used in reference to the interaction of an antibody, a protein, or a peptide with a second chemical species, to mean that the interaction is dependent upon the presence of a particular structure (e.g., an antigenic determinant or epitope) on the chemical species; for example, an antibody recognizes and binds to a specific protein structure rather than to proteins generally. If an antibody is specific for epitope“A”, the presence of a molecule containing epitope A (or free, unlabeled A), in a reaction containing labeled“A” and the antibody, will reduce the amount of labeled A bound to the antibody.
• a particular structure e.g., an antigenic determinant or epitope
• a subject is preferably a mammal such as a non-primate (e.g., cows, pigs, horses, cats, dogs, rats, etc.) and a primate (e.g., monkey and human), most preferably a human.
• a non-primate e.g., cows, pigs, horses, cats, dogs, rats, etc.
• a primate e.g., monkey and human
• to“treat” means reducing the frequency with which symptoms of a disease, defect, disorder, or adverse condition, and the like, are experienced by a patient.
• therapeutic means a treatment and/or prophylaxis.
• a therapeutic effect is obtained by suppression, remission, or eradication of a disease state.
• a“therapeutically effective amount” is the amount of a composition of the invention sufficient to provide a beneficial effect to the individual to whom the composition is administered.
• ranges throughout this disclosure, various aspects of the invention can be presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible subranges as well as individual numerical values within that range. For example, description of a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed subranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, for example, 1, 2, 2.7, 3, 4, 5, 5.3, and 6. This applies regardless of the breadth of the range.
• the present invention relates to compositions and methods for detecting, diagnosing, screening for, treating and/or reducing Babesia infections such as babesiosis in a subject.
• the Babesia infection may include Babesia microti (B. microti ) infections, Babesia duncani (B. duncani) infections, and/or combinations thereof.
• the subject may include a mammal. In certain embodiments, the subject is a human.
• the present invention provides compositions and methods for detecting an infection in a subject.
• the infection includes parasitic infections such as Babesia infections caused by one or more Babesia strains.
• the Babesia infection may include Babesia microti (B. microti ) infections, Babesia duncani (B. duncani) infections, and/or combinations thereof.
• the compositions includes one or more compositions for detecting one or more secreted antigens.
• the one or more antigens include one or more antigens generated by one or more cells infected with a Babesia infection (e.g. B. duncani infection, B. microti infection and/or combination thereof).
• the one or more antigens may include one or more peptides including one or more of SEQ ID NOs: 1-62.
• compositions for detecting and/or diagnosing and infection in a subject.
• the compositions may include one or more
• immunologic agents for detecting one or more antigens or peptides generated by one or more cells.
• the one or more antigens or peptides may be detected in a sample obtained from a subject with an infection.
• the one or more immunologic agents include one or more immunologic agents that have specificity for one or more antigens generated by the one or more cells.
• the one or more immunologic agents may include one or more of an antibody, an antibody fragment, antisense peptide, synthetic peptide, synthetic antibody, synthetic antibody fragment, synthetic hybridized antibody or antibody fragment.
• the one or more immunologic agents detect, bind to, or interact with one or more peptides or antigens generated by one or more cells infected with one or more of B. duncani , B. microti , or both.
• the one or more peptides of antigens may include one or more selected from SEQ. ID. NOs: 1-46, 47-62.
• one or more antigens or peptides selected from SEQ. ID. NOs: 1-46 may be used to detect a B. duncani infection in a sample obtained from a subject.
• one or more antigens or peptides selected from SEQ. ID. NOs: 47-62 may be used to detect a B microti infection in a sample obtained from a subject.
• the biological sample includes one or more of blood, urine, saliva, feces, lymph, bile and the like, and/or one or more combinations thereof.
• the sample may include one or more of a whole blood sample, a plasma sample, a serum sample, a hemolysate sample, and the like.
• the one or more infected cells include one or more blood-derived cells such as one or more of erythrocyte, leukocyte, plasma cell, platelets, and the like.
• the present invention relates to methods for detecting and/or diagnosing one or more Babesia infections including babesiosis, B. duncani infection, B. microti infection, and/or combinations thereof.
• the methods include obtaining one or more biological samples obtained from a subject.
• the one or more biological samples may include one or more of blood, urine, saliva, feces, lymph, bile and the like, and/or one or more combinations thereof.
• the blood sample may include whole blood sample, a plasma sample, a serum sample, a hemolysate sample, and the like.
• the subject may include a human subject.
• the subject may have a known or suspected infection of one or more Babesia strains including one or more of B. duncani , B. microti , and/or combinations thereof.
• Embodiments of the methods include detecting one or more infections in one or more biological samples obtained from a subject.
• the one or more infections include one or more of babesiosis, B. duncani infection, B. microti infection, and/or combinations thereof.
• the infection may be detected using one or more immunologic agent having specificity for one or more antigens or peptides including one or more of SEQ. ID. NOs: 1-46, 47-62, and/or one or more combinations thereof.
• the one or more antigens or peptides are detected using one or more assay platforms including for example, an enzyme-based assay, a radioimmunoassay, a PCR amplification-based assay, a fluorogenic immunoassay, a chemiluminescence-based assay, immunoblotting assay, and combinations thereof.
• the assay may include one or more of Western blot, immunofluorescence, immune-electron
• the one or more antigens or peptides are detected relative to a comparator control.
• an infection is detected if the signal is greater than or less than a threshold value, a difference relative to a comparator control, or the like.
• Embodiments of the methods include measuring one or more biological samples obtained from a subject in order to detect the presence of an infection.
• Embodiments of the methods include measuring one or more biological samples obtained from a subject in order to evaluate the efficacy of one or more therapeutic agents.
• the sample is a blood sample, a sera sample, and/or one or more samples containing one or more other suitable bodily fluids.
• the subject is a subject that is healthy, a subject that is confirmed to be infected, a subject that is suspected to be infected, a subject that has been treated for an infection and is believed to no longer be infected, and the like.
• the subject may be evaluated by assaying the one or more samples obtained from the subject.
• the one or more samples may be evaluated at one or more time points in order to evaluate the status of an infection and/or the efficacy of one or more treatments for the infection.
• the one or more time points include prior to an intentional infection, such as about 24 hours prior to infection, from about 24 hours to about 12 hours prior to infection, from about 12 hours to about 8 hours prior to infection, from about 8 hours to about 4 hours prior to infection, from about 4 hours to about 1 hour prior to infection, less than about 1 hour prior to infection, and any and all intervals and increments therebetween.
• the one or more time points include at the time of infection, up to 1 hour post-infection, from about 1 hour to about 1 day post-infection, from about 1 day to about 2 days post infection, about 2 days to about 3 days post-infection, from about 3 days to about 4 days post-infection, from about 4 days to about 5 day post-infection, from about 5 days to about 6 days post infection, from about 6 day to about 7 days post-infection, from about 1 week to about 2 weeks post-infection, from about 2 weeks to about 4 weeks post-infection, from about 4 weeks to about 6 weeks post-infection, and so on.
• the one or more time points include at the time of infection, immediately prior to administering a therapeutic agents, at the time of administering a therapeutic agent, and at one or more time points after administration of a therapeutic agent.
• the one or more time points may include up to 24 hours prior to administration of a therapeutic agent, from about 24 hours to about 12 hours prior to administration of a therapeutic agent, from about 12 hours to about 8 hours prior to administration of a therapeutic agent, from about 8 hours to about 4 hours prior to
• administration of a therapeutic agent from about 4 hours to about 1 hour prior to
• the one or more time points include: up to 1 hour post-administration, from about 1 hour to about 12 hours post-administration, from about 12 hours to about 24 hours post-administration, from about 1 day to about 2 days post-administration, from about 2 day to about 5 days post-administration, from about 5 days to about 7 days post-administration, from about 7 days to about 14 days post-administration, from about 14 day to about 28 days post-administration, from about 28 days to about 42 days post-administration, and so on.
• the one or more time points may include from about 1 week to about 2 weeks post
• administration from about 2 weeks to about 4 weeks post-administration, from about 4 weeks to about 6 weeks post-administration, and so on.
• the methods include detecting an infection in a subject using one or more techniques as described herein.
• the methods include administering to the subject an effective amount of at least one therapeutic agent including one or more anti-protazoan therapeutic agents.
• the anti-protazoan therapeutic agent includes one or more anti- protazoan agents as understood in the art.
• the apicomplexan parasite Babesia microti is the primary agent of human babesiosis, a malaria-like illness and potentially fatal tick-borne disease. Unlike its close relatives, the agents of human malaria, B. microti develops within human and mouse red blood cells in the absence of a parasitophorous vacuole, and its secreted antigens lack trafficking motifs found in malarial secreted antigens.
• B. microti undergoes a major morphogenic change during which it produces an interlacement of vesicles (10 V); the IOV system extends from the plasma membrane of the parasite into the cytoplasm of the host erythrocyte.
• B. microti isolates used in this study are LabSl and PRA99. These strains were maintained in rag2-/- Knockout (B6.129S6-Rag2tmlFwa N12) and SCID (severe combined immunodeficiency) C.B17 SCID C.B-Igh-lb/IcrTac-Prkdcscid and CB17/Icr- Prkdcscid/IcrlcoCrl mice as previously described.
• Parasitemia was determined by thin blood recombinant protein consisting of amino acids 1-302 of BmGPI12, BmIPA48 (Genebank ID # XP_021338473; EupathDB ID#: BMRl_03g00947) peptide CNKIKTD GGK VD SN S , BmRON2 peptide NKIKTDGGKVDSNS.
• IOVs were isolated from the plasma of uninfected mice or mice infected with B. microti by sequential centrifugations following the protocol for the isolation of exosomes with some modifications. Briefly, 400 m ⁇ plasma from animals was diluted with 5 ml PBS and centrifuged at 500xg for 30 minutes and then at 16,000 x g for 45 min to remove
• IOVs were pelleted with ultracentrifugation (UC) at 120,000 c g for 14 hours at 4°C using a SORVALLTM MTX 150 Micro-Ultracentrifuge with a S52-ST Swinging- Bucket Rotor (THERMO FISHER SCIENTIFIC ® ).
• the resulting pellet (PI) was collected and the supernatant was spun again using the same conditions.
• the resulting pellet (P2) and supernatant (Us) fractions were collected.
• Rabbit anti-BmGPI12 (BmSA-1) antibodies were used to assess the localization of BmGPI12 in B. microti LabSl and PRA99. Rabbit anti-BmIPA48 serum was used to evaluate the localization of BmIPA48 in LabSl .
• Blood smears were prepared from retro orbital bleeding (after centrifugation at 1,500 rpm for 2 min (MINISPIN PLUS ® , EPPENDORFTM) on thin 22 mm x 22 mm microscopy cover glasses (12-542-B; FISHERBRAND ® ) and immediately transferred into a 6-well plate (COSTAR ® , CORNING ® , Inc.) which was put on a cold metal plate on ice.
• 6-well plates with the blood smears were stored at 4°C before being further processed.
• thin blood smears were removed from the 4°C storage and fixed in 1% formaldehyde (28908; THERMO SCIENTIFIC ® ) diluted in PBS (10010-023; GIBCO ® ) at 37°C (PRECISION ® mechanical convection incubator, model 6 LM) for 30 minutes followed by three brief rinses in PBS.
• BIOLEGEND ® BIOLEGEND ® was used at a 1 : 1,000 dilution.
• the anti-BmGPI12 or anti- BmIPA48 antibodies were used at 1 : 1,000 dilution.
• the smears were either incubated overnight at 4°C while being rocked gently (Orbi- Blotter; BENCHMARK ® ) or for 1 hour at 37°C. The next day, slides were washed three times for 2 minutes each with wash buffer and incubated with secondary antibody, Goat anti rabbit IgG (H+L) rhodamine conjugate (31670, Invitrogen) (1 : 1,000) at 37°C for 1 hour and washed three times for 2 minutes each in wash buffer.
• Goat anti rabbit IgG (H+L) rhodamine conjugate 31670, Invitrogen
• the confocal images were acquired with a LEICA ® TCS SP8 STED 3X microscope.
• a HC PL APO CS2 100X/1.40 oil immersion objective was used for image acquisition.
• the pinhole was set to 1 AU.
• the images were acquired in unidirectional confocal mode with 1,000 Hz scan speed (line average 6).
• the image size was image size was chosen to be 38.75 pm x 38.75 pm (1,024 x 1,024 pixels).
• the PMT Trans was further activated to enable the acquisition of DIC images.
• the sample pellet was fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA) in PBS for 30 minutes at room temperature followed by further fixation in 4% PFA at 4°C for 1 hour. They were rinsed in PBS and re-suspended in 10% gelatin. Chilled blocks were trimmed and placed in 2.3 M sucrose overnight on a rotor at 4°C. They were transferred to aluminum pins and frozen rapidly in liquid nitrogen. The frozen blocks were cut on a LEICA ® Cryo-EMUC6 UltraCut and 65 nm thick sections were collected using the Tokoyasu method (Tokuyasu, 1973) and placed on carbon/formvar-coated grids and floated in a dish of PBS for immunolabeling.
• PFA paraformaldehyde
• Samples fixed in 4% PFA were frozen using a LEICA ® HMP 100 at 2000 psi.
• the frozen samples were then freeze substituted using a LEICA ® Freeze AFS unit starting at - 95°C using 1% osmium tetroxide, 1% glutaraldehyde and 1% water in acetone for 10 h, warmed to -20°C for 12 hours and then to 4°C for 2 hours.
• the samples were well rinsed in 100% acetone and infiltrated with DURCUPANTM resin (ELECTRON MICROSCOPY SCIENCES ® ) and baked at 60°C for 24 hours.
• Hardened blocks were cut using a LEICA ® UltraCut UC7 and 60 nm sections were collected on formvar/carbon coated nickel grids.
• Grids were placed section side down on drops of 1% hydrogen peroxide for 5 minutes, rinsed and blocked for non-specific binding on 3% bovine serum albumin in PBS containing 1% Triton-X for 30 minutes. Grids were incubated with a primary antibody rabbit anti-BmGPI12 or anti-BmIPA48 1 : 100 overnight, rinsed in buffer and then incubated with the secondary antibody 10 nm protein A gold (UtrechtUMC) for 30 minutes. The grids were rinsed and fixed using 1% glutaraldehyde for 5 minutes, rinsed well in distilled water, and contrast stained using 2% uranyl acetate and lead citrate. Grids were all viewed in a FEI Tencai Biotwin TEM at 80 kV. Images were taken using Morada CCD and iTEM
• FIJI imagej .net/Fiji
• MICROSOFT ® POWERPOINT ® MICROSCOFT ® Corporation
• B. microti major secreted antigen localizes to vesicular structures associated with parasite morphogenesis.
• the immunodominant BmGPI12 of B. microti is encoded by a member of the bmn multigene family and one of the most highly expressed genes of the parasite during its development within red blood cells. Consistent with the secretion of BmGPI12 from the parasite into the red blood cytoplasm and subsequently into the host environment, immunoblot analyses using anti-BmGPI12 antibodies on blood collected from mice and fractionated to collect plasma (S), erythrocyte cytoplasm (H), and membrane (P) fractions showed the presence of BmGPI12 in all three fractions from animals infected with B.
• microti rhoptry neck protein BmRON2 a highly conserved protein among apicomplexan parasites that localizes to the parasite apical end (Ord et al., 2016, Infect Immun. 84: 1574- 1584), identified the protein in the membrane and plasma fractions, but not in the erythrocyte cytoplasm (FIG. 8). This finding is consistent with the association of BmRON2 with the parasite during its intra-erythrocytic development and its release following the rupture of the infected erythrocyte and exit of daughter parasites (Ord et al., 2016, Infect Immun. 84: 1574- 1584). As a control, pre-immune sera were used to analyze the fractions from uninfected and B. / « cro -infected erythrocytes and no signal could be detected (FIGS. 7 and 8).
• BmGPI12 The localization of BmGPI12 was further examined by confocal microscopy.
• the analysis identified BmGPI12 in both the cytoplasm and plasma membrane of the parasite as well as in the cytoplasm of the infected erythrocyte in well-defined dendrite-like structures and distinct foci (FIG. IB). These structures are reminiscent of membranous extensions often seen in Giemsa-stained blood smears of B. microti -infected erythrocytes at different stages of parasite development (representative images of LabSl) (FIG. 2A). Blood smears prepared from four B.
• mice showed that the parasite undergoes major morphogenic changes throughout its intraerythrocytic life cycle that include ring-shaped forms, rings with dendrite-like tubovesicular structures (TO Vs), dividing parasites (tetrads) and tetrads with TOVs (FIG. 2B and 2C).
• TO Vs rings with dendrite-like tubovesicular structures
• tetrads dividing parasites
• tetrads tetrads with TOVs
• the measured diameter of individual vesicles (IV) is approximately 0.110 pm ⁇ 0.0052 pm (Mean ⁇ SEM), whereas the length of tubes of vesicles (TOV) ranges between -0.405 pm ⁇ 0.056 pm (Mean ⁇ SEM)) and 0.900 pm, depending on the sections.
• IEM immunoelectron microscopy
• B. microti produces IVs and TOVs inside infected erythrocytes and that BmGPI12 is associated with these structures led us to further investigate whether this protein is secreted into the host environment via a vesicle-mediated secretory mechanism or as a free antigen.
• BmGPI12 was found in both the Up and Us fractions, suggesting that it is released into the erythrocyte environment as a membrane associated protein, but could also be found as a free protein, most likely due to cleavage of the GPI anchor by plasma enzymes.
• the host protein TER-119 which associates exclusively with the erythrocyte membrane, was not found in the Up or Us fractions (FIG. 4D), demonstrating that exported proteins are the main proteins found in these fractions. Analysis of the membrane fractions by
• BmIPA48 Another B. microti antigen BmIPA48, which was previously shown to trigger strong IgM and IgG response in infected outbred mice (Silva et al., 2016, Scientific reports, 6:35284).
• BmIPA48 encodes a 48-kDa antigen with an N-terminal signal peptide but no GPI- anchor motif or transmembrane domains (Silva et al., 2016, Scientific reports, 6:35284). As shown in FIG.
• BmIPA48 is expressed in the parasite, secreted into the erythrocyte cytoplasm, and then released into the host plasma (FIG. 5A). Similar to BmGPI12, confocal microscopy shows association of the antigen with discrete foci in the infected red blood cell (FIG. 5C). However, unlike BmGPI12, analysis of the distribution of BmIPA48 following ultracentrifugation shows the presence of the protein exclusively in the vesicles-containing fraction (Up fraction) (FIG. 5B). Consistent with these findings, immunoelectron microscopy analyses of B.
• w/crori-infected erythrocytes demonstrates the presence of BmIPA48 inside vesicles found both in the parasite cytoplasm as well as secreted by the parasite into the erythrocyte cytoplasm (FIG. 5D and 5E).
• Both BmGPI12 and BmIPA48 contain an N-terminal signal peptide but lack specific motifs such as the PEXEL motif found in other apicomplexan parasites and associated with secretion of proteins into the host (Comillot et al., 2016, Transfusion, 56:2085-2099; de Koning-Ward et al., 2016, International journal for parasitology; Lanzer et al., 2006, International journal for parasitology. 36:23-36; Marti et al., 2005, J Cell Biology, 171 :587-592; Pelle et al., 2015, Cell Microbiology.
• microti is of a composition similar to that of the cytoplasm of the parasite.
• An enlargement of a section near the parasite plasma membrane in FIG. 3B showed a tubule consisting of two vesicles directly emerging out of the parasite membrane. This distinguishes this system from the TVM system previously described in P. falciparum, which has been shown to emerge from the parasitophorous vacuolar membrane of the malaria parasite.
• BmGPI12 is primarily found on the parasite plasma membrane and on the membranes of vesicles and tubules. Interestingly, the 10 nm gold particles could be found both inside and outside these vesicles and tubules. It is, therefore, likely that following vesicular release, BmGPI12 exposed outside the vesicles is cleaved and thus found in the soluble fraction whereas the proteins still residing inside the vesicles remain associated with the membrane fraction. On the other hand, immunoelectron microscopy analysis of BmIP48 showed the presence of the protein primarily inside the vesicles, consistent with their exclusive association with the membrane fraction.
• Example 2 B. microti secreted antigens identified by NANOTRAP® proteomic approach
• Example 3 B. duncani secreted antigens identified by NANOTRAP® proteomic approach
• Table 2 List of 46 exported proteins of .B. duncani identified by a NANOTRAP®-based proteomic approach.

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