AUTHOR=Pflughoeft Kathryn J. , Mash Michael , Hasenkampf Nicole R. , Jacobs Mary B. , Tardo Amanda C. , Magee D. Mitchell , Song Lusheng , LaBaer Joshua , Philipp Mario T. , Embers Monica E. , AuCoin David P. TITLE=Multi-platform Approach for Microbial Biomarker Identification Using Borrelia burgdorferi as a Model JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology VOLUME=9 YEAR=2019 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2019.00179 DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2019.00179 ISSN=2235-2988 ABSTRACT=

The identification of microbial biomarkers is critical for the diagnosis of a disease early during infection. However, the identification of reliable biomarkers is often hampered by a low concentration of microbes or biomarkers within host fluids or tissues. We have outlined a multi-platform strategy to assess microbial biomarkers that can be consistently detected in host samples, using Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, as an example. Key aspects of the strategy include the selection of a macaque model of human disease, in vivo Microbial Antigen Discovery (InMAD), and proteomic methods that include microbial biomarker enrichment within samples to identify secreted proteins circulating during infection. Using the described strategy, we have identified 6 biomarkers from multiple samples. In addition, the temporal antibody response to select bacterial antigens was mapped. By integrating biomarkers identified from early infection with temporal patterns of expression, the described platform allows for the data driven selection of diagnostic targets.