MAP Antigens for Early Johne's Disease Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current diagnostic methods for Johne's disease caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) in cattle are inadequate, as they fail to reliably detect infected animals early in the infection process, leading to inefficient control of the disease spread and significant economic losses.
Innovation Solution
Development of novel antigens such as MAP1272c, MAP1569, MAP2121c, MAP2942c, and MAP2609, along with their combinations, for use in methods like ELISA and multiplex bead-based immunoassays to detect antibodies indicative of MAP infection, allowing for early detection and differentiation between infected and non-infected animals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current diagnostic methods are used for Johne's disease, then the testing process is simple, but the sensitivity and specificity for early detection are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the diagnostic process into multiple independent antigen components (MAP1272c, MAP1569, MAP2121c, MAP2942c, MAP2609) that can be tested separately or in combination. This segmentation allows the assay to achieve high sensitivity by detecting multiple immune responses while maintaining operational simplicity through modular testing formats like ELISA or multiplex bead-based assays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite antigen panels combining multiple purified recombinant MAP antigens to create a diagnostic assay with enhanced detection capabilities. By using a composite approach with multiple antigens rather than a single antigen, the assay achieves both high sensitivity and specificity for early detection while maintaining a systematic and manageable testing protocol.
2Reliability
If current diagnostic methods are used, then the assay is easy to operate, but the reliability for distinguishing subclinical infection is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent develops a universal diagnostic platform using purified recombinant antigens that can detect both clinical and subclinical infections through the same basic assay procedures. The multi-functional antigen panel (MAP1272c, MAP1569, MAP2121c, MAP2942c, MAP2609) enables a single testing system to reliably distinguish different infection stages, eliminating the need for separate specialized tests while maintaining ease of operation through standardized protocols.
3Productivity
If early detection methods are implemented, then the control of disease spread improves, but the cost of diagnostic testing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and purifies specific recombinant antigens (MAP1272c, MAP1569, MAP2121c, MAP2942c, MAP2609) from the complex MAP bacterium to create focused diagnostic reagents. This extraction approach concentrates the diagnostic capability into specific high-value antigens that elicit strong immune responses, thereby improving early detection sensitivity and disease control efficiency while using reagents more efficiently compared to whole-cell antigen tests that require larger quantities for equivalent performance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
These antigens provide high specificity and sensitivity for detecting MAP infection at early stages, improving the reliability of diagnostic tests and enabling effective control measures for Johne's disease.
Implementation Method 1
detecting the presence or absence of the binding of a biomarker in the sample with one or more MAP derived antigens
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides novel Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculsis (MAP) derived antigens which may be used to diagnose and thereafter effectively treat animals that have been infected with MAP, Further provided are methods of determining whether an animal is infected with MAP, and methods of diagnosing and treating Johne's disease. The invention also relates to a kit for the implementation of the methods.