Novel recombinant proteins and peptides from and for liver fluke exposure ELISA.

Human serum samples from individuals living in Vietnam and Taiwan suspected of past or infection were screened using several novel peptides and recombinant liver fluke proteins to determine if any consistent patterns could be discerned and used as the basis for future liver fluke ELISA development. Absorbance values at 405 nm were compared to those of pooled unexposed normal human serum and analyzed for statistical significance. The data exhibited some interesting patterns consistent with egg antigen sequestration in the gut possibly leading to lower serum antibody levels and potential regional exposure differences between Vietnamese and Taiwanese subjects. In particular, antibodies against Cathepsin B and B2 peptides, as well as a partial Cahedrin Domain peptide may be elevated in some Taiwanese serum samples while antibodies against recombinant egg protein and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Peptide Antigen 59 may be elevated in some samples from both Taiwan and Vietnam. The data appear to suggest that some of the novel recombinant protein and peptide antigens selected and tested herein warrant further study with larger sample sizes as possible targets for detecting anti-liver fluke antibodies by ELISA from humans suspected of liver fluke infections.