METHOD OF DETECTING AND IDENTIFYING CIRCULATING ANTIGENS IN HUMAN BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES
Disclosed herein is a method of detecting and identifying antigens that are shed into human bodily fluids during infection. The disclosed method allows circulating antigens associated with a particular infection to be detected within minutes or hours from testing as compared to days required with the current methods. Methods of identifying diagnostic indicators/targets for a given condition or disease are disclosed which include immunizing a verterinary subject with biological fluids obtained from a human infected with particular antigens to identify diagnostic targets for immunoassay. Also disclosed are methods of diagnosing and monitoring a B. pseudomallei -associated condition, such as melioidosis. Point-of-care immunoassays are also provided that can be used to diagnose or monitor the efficacy of a B. pseudomallei -associated condition treatment. These immunoassays can also be used for rapid diagnosis of infection produced by B. pseudomallei , such as meliodosis.
1 . A kit for detecting a B. pseudomallei -associated condition, comprising at least one molecule capable of detecting at least one B. pseudomallei -associated molecule presented in Table 1 and directions for using the kit to detect a B. pseudomallei -associated condition.
2 . The kit of claim 1 , wherein the kit is one for self monitoring and the at least one molecule capable of detecting at least one B. pseudomallei -associated molecule presented in Table 1 is presented on a test strip.
3 . The kit of claim 2 , wherein the kit includes directions for using the kit to detect melioidosis.
4 . The kit of claim 2 , wherein the test strip is a dipstick test strip.
5 . The kit of claim 4 , wherein the kit includes directions for using the kit to detect melioidosis.
6 . The kit of claim 2 , wherein the kit includes directions for using the kit to diagnose a subject with acute melioidosis.
7 . The kit of claim 2 , wherein the kit includes directions for using the kit to diagnose a subject with chronic melioidosis.
8 . The kit of claim 2 , wherein the kit includes directions for using the kit to monitor efficacy of a therapy.