imdiTBap: Improving the diagnosis of tuberculosis in domestic ruminants through the use of new antigens and test platforms
International coordination of research on infectious animal diseases (ICRAD)
Project id:29
2023-2026
Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) presents a significant challenge to animal and public health globally. TB in domestic ruminants is also a significant cause of zoonotic TB (zTB), mainly in developing/low and middle income countries (LMIC) as highlighted in the recently published roadmap to zTB eradication jointly produced by WHO, WOAH and the International Union against TB & Lung Disease (UTLD). Their One Health approach acknowledged that TB eradication in animals will impact zTB in humans. Eradication could be accelerated by improved diagnostic tests that overcome limitations associated with Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) tuberculin: limited performance, standardisation, vaccine-interference. These could be overcome by defined antigens. PPDs are used both in tuberculin skin tests and blood interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA). More sensitive blood test platforms that complement the IGRA test could further enhance diagnostic performance. TB tests in domestic ruminants primarily target cellular immunity, yet serological tests can also be useful for additional case detection. Thus, the imdiTBap project aims to address these constraints to optimise test performance in an inter-connected manner. We will conduct field validation for test sensitivity and specificity of the defined antigen formulation DST-F (fusion protein of ESAT6, CFP10, Rv3615c) in domestic ruminants (cattle, goats, buffalos) in different epidemiological settings (WP1, skin test, IGRA). Environmental exposure to mycobacteria in the farms will also be evaluated. We will develop a multi-cytokine platform (MCP) to enhance test performance beyond the current IGRA, (WP2) and also develop novel antigen capture and lateral flow assays (WP3). The performance of these innovative tests will be assessed with samples generated in WP1. WP4 will critically assess data generated in WP1-3 and provide recommendations for the optimal combinations of test platforms to accelerate TB eradication in domestic ruminants
This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No 862605 and the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MCIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) Project PCI2023-143368.
Publications derived from this project
- Agullo-Ros I, Vaz-Rodrigues R, Dominguez M, Roy A, Ortega J, Moreno I, Bezos J, Dominguez L, Fernandez de Mera IG* and Risalde MA. Immunological mechanisms involved in the protection against development of pulmonary tuberculosis in naturally infected goats. Veterinary Microbiology, 300:110320. 2025. (A). ISSN: 0378-1135.
DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2024.110320 Handle Impact factor 2023: 2.400 Category: Veterinary Sciences Quartile: 1 Position: 24 of 167 - Franzoni G*, Signorelli F, Mazzone P, Donniacuo A, De Matteis G, Grandoni F, Schiavo L, Zinellu S, Dei Giudici S, Bezos J, De Carlo E, Galiero G, Napolitano F and Martucciello A . Cytokines as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of Mycobacterium bovis infection in Mediterranean buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). Frontiers in veterinary science, 11:1512571. 2024. (A). ISSN: 2297-1769.
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1512571 Handle Impact factor 2023: 2.600 Category: Veterinary Sciences Quartile: 1 Position: 22 of 167 - Ortega J, Agullo-Ros I, Roy A, Moreno I, Gómez-Buendía A, Romero B, Ferreras-Colina E, de Juan L, Dominguez M, Dominguez L, Risalde MA and Bezos J. A high titer antibody response against P22 protein immunocomplex is not correlated with protection in naturally tuberculosis-infected goats. The Veterinary quarterly, 44(1):16-30. 2024. (A). ISSN: 0165-2176.
DOI: 10.1080/01652176.2024.2429851 Handle Impact factor 2023: 7.900 Category: Veterinary Sciences Quartile: 1 Position: 2 of 167 - Velasco-Reinaldos C, Ortega J, Gómez-Buendía A, Grau A, Lopez M, Alvarez J, Romero B, de Juan L and Bezos J*. Evaluation of the Effect of a Recent Comparative Intradermal Tuberculin Test on the Humoral Diagnosis of Paratuberculosis Using Serum and Milk Samples from Goats. Veterinary sciences, 11(3):105. 2024. (A). ISSN: 2306-7381.
DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11030105 Handle Impact factor 2023: 2.000 Category: Veterinary Sciences Quartile: 2 Position: 43 of 167 - Velasco-Reinaldos C, Ortega J, Rincón-Fernández de la Puente J, Romero B*, de Juan L, Dominguez L, Dominguez M, Moreno I, Alvarez J and Bezos J. Effect of a recent intradermal test on the specificity of P22 ELISA for the diagnosis of caprine tuberculosis. Frontiers in veterinary science, 11:1-7. 2024. (A). ISSN: 2297-1769.
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1358413 Handle Impact factor 2023: 2.600 Category: Veterinary Sciences Quartile: 1 Position: 22 of 167 - Martucciello A ., Mazzone P., Napolitano F., Bezos J., Grandoni F., Boniotti MB., Cagiola M., Cappelli G., Di Vuolo G., Galiero G., Signorelli F. and De Carlo E. Intradermal Tuberculin Test in Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis): Experimental use of Mycobacterial Antigens for the Diagnosis of Bovine Tuberculosis. Journal of Buffalo Science. 13:46-52. Lifescience Global Inc. ISBN: 1927-5196. 2024.
DOI: 10.6000/1927-520X.2024.13.05
