1.Clinical enzymes as possible immunological biomarkers in the diagnosis of malaria, human African and American trypanosomiasis
Raphael Enrique Tiongco ; Noemi Anne Paragas ; Micah Angela Salunga ; Mark F F Padua ; Dea Ponciano ; Marri Vyzielle Pinpin ; Mark Raymund Nava ; Maileen Ragasa ; Maria Ruth Pineda-Cortel
Tropical Biomedicine 2018;35(3):781-795
Peripheral blood smear microscopy still remains the gold standard for diagnosing
malaria and trypanosomiasis. Microscopy is a labor-intensive process and requires great
amount of skill to accomplish. Even though cheap and easy to perform, it still has several
limitations. This hinders the microscopist in identifying protozoan structure or differentiating
species from one another. Considering these factors in the performance of microscopic
examination, it is crucial to identify new strategies for parasite identification and species
differentiation. Innovations in clinical enzymology, immunodiagnostics, and molecular
technology would be of help in resolving the problem. This study mainly focused on the
possible role of clinical enzymes in malaria and trypanosomiasis diagnosis. Enzymes play a
vital role in parasite physiology and metabolism. They enable the parasite to survive inside
the living host by initiating different metabolic cycles. These enzymes can either be expressed
on the surface of the protozoa or excreted in the extracellular environment. Lactate
dehydrogenase, aldolase, and glutamate dehydrogenase were the significant enzymes
associated with pathogenic Plasmodium spp. Other malarial enzymes were also identified
but further validation is still required to establish their use as diagnostic biomarkers. Whereas,
the enzyme matrix metalloproteinase was identified as significant for diagnosing and
differentiating Trypanosoma spp. Analysis of these enzymes can be used as alternative
means for microscopy in parasite identification and differentiation. Application of these
enzymes as immunologic markers in various diagnostic test kits should be further evaluated.