Pearl Antigenics is a full-service repository of MAbs exclusive to Trichomonas vaginalis.
There are two Trichomonas vaginalis Serodiagnostic Targets for Large Scale Screening
Two perfect targets that can either be used singly or in combination for a POC serodiagnostic test have been identified and characterized [1,2]. These serodiagnostics are useful for resource-poor environments worldwide. A recent paper [1] I demonstrated a String-of-Epitopes (SOE) recombinant protein called AEG::SOE2, which is a serodiagnostic target for trichomonosis. This protein is also referred to as an epitope chain protein [3] with applicability as a vaccine [3]. This protein has immunogenic epitopes of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (A), α-enolase (E), and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G) that are unique to the T. vaginalis proteins [4]. A second target for a serodiagnostic is a 72.4-kDa truncated version of the α-actinin immunogen [4]. This protein is also unique to T. vaginalis. It has no sequence identity with other proteins in databanks. The protein is referred to as ACT::SOE3. It has 7 epitopes detected by women within which are 5 epitopes reactive with men patients [2,4]. AEG::SOE2 and ACT::SOE3 serodiagnostics may be used to screen large cohorts of at-risk individuals for this STI, which is preparatory to advancing the reproductive health of women and men.
About Trichomonas vaginalis
Trichomonas vaginalis causes the number one curable non-viral sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide. Recent publications indicate the current prevalence of trichomonosis among women in the United States ranges is approximately 15%.
There is at present a high burden of this STI among some pregnant women. It has been established that this STI is responsible for adverse reproductive outcomes in women, such as low-birth-weight infants and premature births. This STI is associated with increased risk for endometritis and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Infected women are more susceptible to other STIs and, especially, HIV seroconversion. Trichomonosis is associated with infertility.
Diagnosis of symptomatic women and men is highly recommended. Diagnosis of trichomonosis among HIV-infected women who may be asymptomatic is recommended.
Both young and older women can be infected. As most infected individuals are without symptoms, persistence of this STI is a hallmark.
For trichomonosis, the diagnosis of large cohorts of at-risk women and men is necessary to improve the reproductive health of humans.
Pearl Antigenics, LLC is dedicated to the development of rapid, inexpensive Point-of-Care (POC) serum and/or saliva IgG detection of individuals exposed to T. vaginalis that leads to immediate treatment and cure of this prominent STI. The target protein invented for this diagnostic is highly specific and unique only to T. vaginalis.
The company is committed to POC diagnostics that will have significant utility in non-sterile, low resource environments, in community-based clinics and in all countries, especially under-developed countries, worldwide.
MEET THE SCIENTIST
Dr. John F. Alderete, Ph.D.
John F. Alderete, Ph.D. is Professor of the School of Molecular Biosciences at Washington State University-Pullman. Dr. Alderete is the Past-President of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in the Sciences (SACNAS). He has two B.S. degrees (mathematics and biology) from New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Dr. John Alderete completed his PhD at the University of Kansas.
Prior to WSU he spent ~30-years as a professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He has over 147 peer-review publications on studies of the mechanisms of pathogenesis caused by the number one, non-viral STD agent, Trichomonas vaginalis. His most recent finding is the relation between seropositivity to T. vaginalis and prostate cancer. He is the founder of two biotechnology companies and inventor of the first-ever Point-of-Care diagnostic for T. vaginalis. More recently, his focus has been on an approach to develop an epitope chain protein that will be perfect serodiagnostic targets and vaccines for T. vaginalis and other infectious diseases.
He has been a member of study sections and panels for NIH institutes, the NSF, USDA and other government agencies. He was a member on the NRC Standing Committee on Biodefense for the U.S. Department of Defense and was a member of the National Advisory Council for the new National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities. He was a member of the National Advisory Council for the National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research (NIH). Dr. Alderete has served on National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine panels and as a reviewer of Institute of Medicine (IOM) panel reports.
Equally noteworthy are his many contributions to discussions involving the underrepresentation of minorities in science at the local, state and national levels and his many activities involving minority students and their parents. These include the President's National Science Board, NIH, FDA, White House Office for Science and Technology Policy, and White House “One Nation” on race and health disparities. He was asked to moderate the session on a Public Policy Forum on the “Digital Divide,” as part of the President’s Information Technology Advisory Committee and The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. In April 2000, he moderated a session at the Office of Research on Minority Health/NIH conference on health disparities in Washington, DC. He has received numerous awards throughout his career in science, most notably the Premio Encuentro Award for Science and Technology —the highest honor given to a Latino by the Latino community in our country.
