Application of different subtypes of Treponema pallidum adhesin TP0136 recombinant proteins in serological diagnosis of patients with neurosyphilis

Abstract

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of different subtypes of Treponema pallidum (Tp) adhesin protein TP0136 in the blood of neurosyphilitic patients. Methods The general conditions were compared in syphilitic patients with vs. without neuroinvolvement. Molecular cloning technique was used to express and purify Nichols Seattle TP0136 (abbreviated as NST) and Nichols Houston TP0136 (abbreviated as NHT) recombinant proteins. ELISA assay was used to measure serum levels of NST and NHT antibodies in neurosyphilitic and non-neurosyphilitic patients. Results There were no significant differences in age, gender, geographic region and occupation between neurosyphilitic and non-neurosyphilitic patients (P>0.05), while marital status, neurological symptoms, serum or plasma TRUST and TPPA titer, serum or plasma TP-IgM positive rate, cerebrospinal fluid TRUST and TPPA titer differed significantly (P<0.05); The antibody levels of NST in the serum or plasma of the neurosyphilitic and non-neurosyphilitic groups did not differ significantly (t=0.15, P=0.920). However, the antibody levels of NHT in the serum or plasma of the non-neurosyphilitic group were higher than that in neurosyphilitic patients (t=3.68, P=0.021). Conclusion Treponema pallidum adhesin protein TP0136 recombinant protein NHT can be used as a potential hematological marker for the diagnosis of neurosyphilis.

Keywords

• treponema pallidum
• tp0136
• recombinant protein
• neurosyphilis
• hematological marker