Recombinant IgG Monoclonal Antibody-Based Detection of Taenia Antigen In Humans And Pigs

The pork tapeworm, Taenia solium, is endemic in most of Asia, Latin America, and Sub-Saharan Africa. The risk of infection is increased in regions where pigs are raised in closed proximity to humans, with migration from endemic regions being directly proportional to the prevalence of infection in high-income countries. Human infection by T. solium occurs following oral ingestion of eggs passed in human feces from an infected carrier. The larvae can travel anywhere in the human body. Neurocysticercosis (NCC) occurs when the larvae traverse the blood-brain barrier and penetrate the central nervous system. Diagnosis of NCC is typically made through radiological imaging studies (such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging) to visualize the morphology, stage, and location of the cysts.

Investigators at NIAID have developed the recombinant IgG monoclonal antibody known as TsG10, which can target T. solium circulating antigens. An expression vector to produce TsG10 is available for expression in mammalian cell lines. The resulting construct allows for a scalable, repeatable, and broadly accessible production of monoclonal antibodies for both human and veterinary use. The TsG10 monoclonal antibodies are adaptable for plate-based diagnostic assays like ELISAs, to support a diagnosis of NCC.