Plasma Proteomics Reveals Distinct Signatures in Occult and Microfilaremic Loa loa Infections.

Journal: The Journal of infectious diseases
Published Date: Jul 17, 2025

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Loiasis, caused by the filarial nematode Loa loa, imposes a significant disease burden in endemic regions in West and Central Africa. Manifestations include adult worms in soft tissue (e.g., the conjunctiva of the eye) and microfilaria in peripheral blood, with clinical presentations ranging from asymptomatic infections to life-threatening organ involvement. Diagnosis remains challenging due to variable microfilaria counts, frequent amicrofilaremic occult infections, and unreliable serological tests. The untargeted plasma proteome reflects broad (patho-)physiological responses, providing valuable insights into the host and disease.

Authors

  • Clemens Dierks
    Corporate Research, Sartorius Stedim Biotech GmbH, Germany; Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen - University of Applied Sciences, Germany.
  • Pinkus Tober-Lau
    Department of Infectious Diseases and Critical Care Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
  • Luzia Veletzky
    Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
  • Ziyue Wang
    Mingxu Technology Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China.
  • Boris Zühlke
    Institute of Biochemistry, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
  • Daniela Ludwig
    Core Facility High Throughput Mass Spectrometry, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
  • Agathe Niewienda
    Core Facility High Throughput Mass Spectrometry, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
  • Anja Freiwald
    Core Facility High Throughput Mass Spectrometry, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
  • Lara Bardtke
    Department of Infectious Diseases and Critical Care Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
  • Paolo Kroneberg
    Department of Infectious Diseases and Critical Care Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
  • Daniel Stelzl
    Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon.
  • Jennifer Hergeth
    Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon.
  • Rella Zoleko Manego
    Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon.
  • Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma
    Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon.
  • Selidji Todagbe Agnandji
    Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon.
  • Ayola Akim Adegnika
    Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases (LUCID), Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
  • Michael Mülleder
    Core Facility High Throughput Mass Spectrometry, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
  • Michael Ramharter
    Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon.
  • Markus Ralser
    The Francis Crick Institute, Molecular Biology of Metabolism laboratory, London, UK. markus.ralser@crick.ac.uk.
  • Florian Kurth
    Department of Infectious Diseases and Critical Care Medicine, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

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