Review Article

Novel Treponema pallidum Recombinant Antigens for Syphilis Diagnostics: Current Status and Future Prospects

Table 1

T. pallidum proteins used and proposed for syphilis serological diagnostics.

Gene (ORF number)Protein nameProtein description Immunoproteomic dataSeroreactivity at syphilis stagesSensitivity/specificity; (% of positive result)Links
Brinkman et al. [17]McGill et al. [12]

Inner membrane lipoproteins
tp0171Tp1515 kDa lipoproteinNone+++All stages100/100[28]
tp0435Tp1717 kDa lipoprotein9,6–16,6+++All stages96/100[28]
tp0574Tp4747 kDa penicillin-
binding protein,
carboxypeptidase
2,9–10,0+++All stages100/20[28]
tp0768TmpA44.5 kDa lipoprotein8,2–15,3+++All stages76–100/
99,6
[32]
tp0319TmpC35 kDa lipoprotein, purine nucleoside receptor A lipoprotein2,8–6,2+/++All stages100/100[34]
tp0684Tp38,
MglB-2
38 kDa lipoprotein, methylgalactoside ABC transporter, galactose/glucose-binding lipoprotein6,8–19,0+++All stagesND[35]
tp0821Tp3232 kDa lipoprotein,
L-methionine-binding lipoprotein
1,0–1,7NoneAll stages91,0–98,3/
94,3–100
[38]

Surface-exposed and outer membrane associated proteins
tp0897TprKHeterogenic antigen variable by gene conversionNoneNoneNDND[43]
[44]
[45]
tp0663TROMP-228-kDa outer membrane protein, FlaA homolog0,8–1,9NoneAll stages98,83/100[47]
tp0326Tp92BamA (β-barrel assembly machinery protein A) ortholog1,2–2,6NoneMostly at primary stage; lower reactivity in secondary and early latent stage86/99
98/97
[52]
[55]
tp0453Tp0453Proposed carrier of lipids and glycolipidsNone+/++98/100
100/100
[52]
[55]

Adhesins
tp0155Tp0155Binds to the matrix form of fibronectin and exhibit peptidase enzymatic activityNoneNonelow reactive at primary stageND (27,9% positive)[55]
tp0483Tp0483Binds to both the soluble and matrix forms of fibronectinNoneNoneLow reactive at primary stageND (41,8% positive)[55]
tp0136Tp013649 kDa outer membrane (lipo)protein; it binds to fibronectin and laminin0,7–2,1NonePrimary stageND (85,5% positive)[62]
tp0751Tp075125,8 kDa protein; it binds to laminin and exhibits metalloprotease activityNoneNoneNDND (41,8% positive)[55]
tp0750Tp0750Cotranscribed with Tp0751 serine protease0,8–2,1NonePrimary and early latent stagesND[65]

Putative periplasmic proteins
tp0257GpdGlycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterase, binds Fc-fragment of human IgA, IgD, and IgG immunoglobulins3,0–7,3NoneAll stages91/93[55]
tp1038TpF1, 4D, C1–5bacterioferritin, homodecamer from 19-kDa subunits0,8–2,2+++All stages93–100/
100
[71]

Flagellar proteins
tp0868FlaB1Flagellar filament 34.5-kDa core proteinNone+++All stages95.4/98.9[73]
tp0792FlaB2Flagellar filament 33-kDa core proteinNone+++All stages92.6/95.8[73]
tp0870FlaB3Flagellar filament 31-kDa core proteinNone+++All stages95.1/95.8[73]