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DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN BIOMARKERS OF EXPOSURE TO WATERBORNE PATHOGENS
Impact/Purpose:
To develop and evaluate methods for detecting biomarkers of exposure to infectious agents. In vitro tests for products associated with cellular and humoral immunity, such as IFN-� and antibodies, will be developed. The initial infectious agents to be investigated include viruses on the contaminant candidate list, such as coxsackievirus, echovirus, adenovirus and calicivirus.
Description:
Contaminated drinking water is major source of waterborne diseases. EPA has published a drinking water contaminant candidate list (CCL) that contains a number of pathogens that potentially could be regulated in drinking water. Studies indicate that certain viral pathogens (adenoviruses, caliciviruses, coxsackieviruses and echoviruses) on the list are associated with serious health consequences (sequelae), such as type-1 diabetes and myocarditis. However, little is known about infection by these waterborne microbes and their linkage to sequelae. It is important to develop human biomarkers related to these exposures. In this study, cytokines such as interferon gamma (IFN-�) and antibodies are selected as human biomarkers of exposure to CCL organisms. The rationale of the present study is based on the principle of immunology, that antigen-specific T and B memory cells developed during immune response against microbes are capable of mounting a strong and rapid immune reaction when they come into contact with the original antigens. Previous studies demonstrate that T and B memory cells can be stimulated in vitro by specific antigens and result in an increase of IFN-� and antibodies. To examine the level of IFN-� and antibodies released in either blood or a non-invasive specimen such as saliva, a highly sensitive and specific ELISA test will be developed and used to investigate these biomarkers for evidence of past and current exposure to waterborne pathogens. The results of this study can be utilized by EPA to conduct exposure studies related to microbial pathogens in water.