Pathology and infection status of sampled volunteers.

<p>Pathology and infection status of sampled volunteers.</p

Quantitative label-free proteomic analysis of human urine to identify novel candidate protein biomarkers for schistosomiasis

<div><p>Background</p><p>Schistosomiasis is a chronic neglected tropical disease that is characterized by continued inflammatory challenges to the exposed population and it has been established as a possible risk factor in the aetiology of bladder cancer. Improved diagnosis of schistosomiasis and its associated pathology is possible through mass spectrometry to identify biomarkers among the infected population, which will influence early detection of the disease and its subtle morbidity.</p><p>Methodology</p><p>A high-throughput proteomic approach was used to analyse human urine samples for 49 volunteers from Eggua, a schistosomiasis endemic community in South-West, Nigeria. The individuals were previously screened for <i>Schistosoma haematobium</i> and structural bladder pathologies via microscopy and ultrasonography respectively. Samples were categorised into schistosomiasis, schistosomiasis with bladder pathology, bladder pathology, and a normal healthy control group. These samples were analysed to identify potential protein biomarkers.</p><p>Results</p><p>A total of 1306 proteins and 9701 unique peptides were observed in this study (FDR = 0.01). Fifty-four human proteins were found to be potential biomarkers for schistosomiasis and bladder pathologies due to schistosomiasis by label-free quantitative comparison between groups. Thirty-six (36) parasite-derived potential biomarkers were also identified, which include some existing putative schistosomiasis biomarkers that have been previously reported. Some of these proteins include Elongation factor 1 alpha, phosphopyruvate hydratase, histone H4 and heat shock proteins (HSP 60, HSP 70).</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>These findings provide an in-depth analysis of potential schistosoma and human host protein biomarkers for diagnosis of chronic schistosomiasis caused by <i>Schistosoma haematobium</i> and its pathogenesis.</p></div

Identified differentially abundant human proteins and their predicted functions that were shared between individuals with combined structural bladder pathology and <i>Schistosoma</i> infection (PS) and <i>Schistosoma</i> infected individuals (SH).

<p>Identified differentially abundant human proteins and their predicted functions that were shared between individuals with combined structural bladder pathology and <i>Schistosoma</i> infection (PS) and <i>Schistosoma</i> infected individuals (SH).</p

Identified differentially abundant human proteins and their predicted functions from PT and PS groups vs the NPS group.

<p>Identified differentially abundant human proteins and their predicted functions from PT and PS groups vs the NPS group.</p

A hierarchical heatmap showing distinct clustering of each sample group.

<p>The colour bars above the heatmap depict the following clusters: Schistosomiasis, SH—red; Bladder Pathology, PT—blue; Pathology and Schistosomiasis, PS—green; No Pathology or Schistosomiasis, NPS—yellow. Representative protein identifiers that drive the clustering are also shown.</p

Summarized molecular function of the identified human and Schistosoma proteins as predicted by Blast2GO.

<p>The abbreviations represent different sample groups namely: SH—<i>S</i>. <i>haematobium</i> infected groups (A); PT—bladder pathology group (B); PS—group with combination of pathology and <i>S</i>. <i>haematobium</i> infection (C); and Schistosoma proteins (D).</p

Identified Schistosoma-derived proteins across all urine sample groups, and their predicted functions.

<p>A posterior error probability (PEP) score cut-off of <0.01 was applied to all protein identities in order to ensure confident protein assignments.</p

Identified differentially abundant human proteins and their predicted functions in individuals infected with <i>Schistosoma haematobium</i> (SH) vs the NPS group.

<p>Identified differentially abundant human proteins and their predicted functions in individuals infected with <i>Schistosoma haematobium</i> (SH) vs the NPS group.</p

Allocation of observed Schistosoma-derived proteins into various subcellular locations according to Blast2GO analysis.

<p>Allocation of observed Schistosoma-derived proteins into various subcellular locations according to Blast2GO analysis.</p

Quantitative label-free proteomic analysis of human urine to identify novel candidate protein biomarkers for schistosomiasis - Fig 7

<p>Venn diagrams showing (A) overlap in Schistosoma proteins identified across different clinical groups and (B) overlap in the statistically significant human proteins identified across clinical groups. SH—<i>S</i>. <i>haematobium</i> infected groups; PT—Bladder Pathology group; PS—group with combination of pathology and <i>S</i>. <i>haematobium</i> infection; NPS—No Pathology or Schistosomiasis.</p