Development of Rapid Antigen Detection Assays For Taeniasis

This proposal addresses the significant public health threat posed by the spread of Taenia soliumthe pork tapewormin at risk human populationsInfection with Tsoliumor Taeniasiscan lead to Cysticercosiscaused by the migration and encystment of larval Tsolium in the central nervous systemCysticercosis is a severe to fatal disease which affects overmillion people worldwideprincipally in less developed countries where pigs and humans live in close proximityTaeniasis can be treated effectively in individuals who are diagnosed as carriers of the parasitepreventing its spread to othersDiagnostic tests that can detect carriers of Tsolium are not readily available and those that have been developed previously are either complexperform suboptimallyor are not available commerciallyTsolium antigens with high sensitivity and specificity for Taeniasis have been identifiedThis project will focus on the development of specific antibodies to these antigens in Phase Iand on the subsequent use of these antibodies as antigen capture reagents to develop sensitivespecificsimple and rapid tests for Taeniasis in Phase IIThe resulting ELISA and lateral flow assays will be the first highly accurate tests for Taeniasis to be made available commercially