Detection of primary infections with pathogens

摘要

The present invention relates to fusion proteins suitable as test antigens in the detection of infections with pathogens, particularly of primary infections with pathogens. Further, the invention relates to methods for detecting and differentially determining antibodies, particularly IgM antibodies resulting from an infection with a pathogenic organism. Furthermore, test reagents for carrying out these methods are provided.

主权项

1. A fusion polypeptide comprising at least one multimerization domain and a plurality of copies of an epitope segment from a pathogenic organism, wherein the multimerization domain, which supports multimerization of individual polypeptide molecules, is Skp from E. coli, and wherein the epitope segment comprises an epitope which is specifically recognized by antibodies occurring in a specific phase of infection, and wherein the fusion polypeptide is capable of forming a multimer.