Raman spectroscopic analysis of skin as a diagnostic tool for Human African Trypanosomiasis

Girard, A. et al. (2021) Raman spectroscopic analysis of skin as a diagnostic tool for Human African Trypanosomiasis. PLoS Pathogens, 17(11), e1010060. (doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010060) (PMID:34780575) (PMCID:PMC8629383)

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Abstract

Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) has been responsible for several deadly epidemics throughout the 20th century, but a renewed commitment to disease control has significantly reduced new cases and motivated a target for the elimination of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense-HAT by 2030. However, the recent identification of latent human infections, and the detection of trypanosomes in extravascular tissues hidden from current diagnostic tools, such as the skin, has added new complexity to identifying infected individuals. New and improved diagnostic tests to detect Trypanosoma brucei infection by interrogating the skin are therefore needed. Recent advances have improved the cost, sensitivity and portability of Raman spectroscopy technology for non-invasive medical diagnostics, making it an attractive tool for gambiense-HAT detection. The aim of this work was to assess and develop a new non-invasive diagnostic method for T. brucei through Raman spectroscopy of the skin. Infections were performed in an established murine disease model using the animal-infective Trypanosoma brucei brucei subspecies. The skin of infected and matched control mice was scrutinized ex vivo using a confocal Raman microscope with 532 nm excitation and in situ at 785 nm excitation with a portable field-compatible instrument. Spectral evaluation and Principal Component Analysis confirmed discrimination of T. brucei-infected from uninfected tissue, and a characterisation of biochemical changes in lipids and proteins in parasite-infected skin indicated by prominent Raman peak intensities was performed. This study is the first to demonstrate the application of Raman spectroscopy for the detection of T. brucei by targeting the skin of the host. The technique has significant potential to discriminate between infected and non-infected tissue and could represent a unique, non-invasive diagnostic tool in the goal for elimination of gambiense-HAT as well as for Animal African Trypanosomiasis (AAT).

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Bradley, Mrs Barbara and Marchesi, Dr Francesco and Asiala, Dr Steven and MacLeod, Professor Annette and Gibbins, Dr Matt and Graham, Professor Duncan and Quintana, Dr Juan and Marti, Professor Matthias and Capewell, Dr Paul and Cooper, Dr Anneli and Girard, Dr Alexandre and Garside, Professor Paul and Hentzschel, Dr Franziska and O'Connell, Dr Caroline
Creator Roles:
Girard, A.Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing
Cooper, A.Investigation, Methodology, Supervision, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing
Bradley, B.Investigation, Methodology, Writing – review and editing
Asiala, S.Supervision, Validation, Writing – review and editing
Clucas, C.Investigation, Methodology, Writing – review and editing
Capewell, P.Investigation, Methodology, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing
Marchesi, F.Formal analysis, Investigation, Writing – review and editing
Gibbins, M. P.Investigation, Resources, Writing – review and editing
Hentzschel, F.Investigation, Writing – review and editing
Marti, M.Resources, Writing – review and editing
Quintana, J. F.Formal analysis, Validation, Writing – review and editing
Garside, P.Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing – review and editing
MacLeod, A.Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Resources, Supervision, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing
Graham, D.Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Resources, Supervision, Writing – original draft, Writing – review and editing
Authors: Girard, A., Cooper, A., Mabbott, S., Bradley, B., Asiala, S., Jamieson, L., Clucas, C., Capewell, P., Marchesi, F., Gibbins, M. P., Hentzschel, F., Marti, M., Quintana, J. F., Garside, P., Faulds, K., MacLeod, A., and Graham, D.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
Research Centre:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Immunobiology
Journal Name:PLoS Pathogens
Publisher:Public Library of Science
ISSN:1553-7366
ISSN (Online):1553-7374
Published Online:15 November 2021
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2021 Girard et al.
First Published:First published in PLoS Pathogens 17(11): e1010060
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License
Data DOI:10.15129/73010fd1-4bed-4224-9c01-ca62fae149d8

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
301099The skin as a reservoir for trypanosomes: the key to transmission and disease pathologyAnnette MacLeodWellcome Trust (WELLCOTR)209511/Z/17/ZInstitute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine
310358Molecular basis of pathogen-induced disruption of host circadian rhythmsJuan QuintanaWellcome Trust (WELLCOTR)221640/Z/20/ZMVLS - Polyomics Facility