# Using Host Responses to Neurocysticercosis to Develop Novel, Brain-imaging Free Diagnostics: a US-India Partnership

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR · 2020 · $506,046

## Abstract

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a parasitic infection of the brain that accounts for 34% of active epilepsy cases
in Vellore district, India. New methods for diagnosing NCC are badly needed because the cost of diagnostic
imaging is beyond the means of most patients, and 34% of NCC patients are missed by the gold standard for
antibody detection. Our National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke (R21NS077466) and Indian
Ministry of Science and Technology (BT/MB/BRCP/06/2011)-funded pilot study used mRNA arrays of blood
monocytes followed by qPCR confirmation to identify differentially expressed genes in patients with NCC-
associated seizures / epilepsy (referred to as epilepsy) compared to controls with and without epilepsy. This
approach identified 15 genes of interest showing highest expression levels in patients with NCC-associated
epilepsy, followed by patients with resolved NCC and finally by those with idiopathic epilepsy. Expression
levels of some genes differed among NCC patients with different types of brain lesions with expression
decreasing as lesions resolved. In addition, sera from the same patients were analyzed by electrospray
ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) to identify mass/charge peaks that could discriminate between NCC
patients and controls. Notably, ESI-MS also distinguished NCC from idiopathic seizures / epilepsy, and both
ESI-MS and gene expression studies identified overexpression of RAP1A at the protein levels and mRNA
levels, respectively, in NCC patients. These results are extremely promising for developing novel diagnostic
tools. Our central hypothesis is that NCC-associated epilepsy can be diagnosed by peripheral biomarkers and
will be tested with two research specific aims. Specific Aim 1 will establish the relevance of preliminarily
identified candidate genes to NCC. In a first sub-aim, we will assess in-vitro relationships between exposure to
T. solium metacestodes' antigens and expression of candidate genes in patient monocytes and in monocyte-
like cell lines. The second sub-aim will measure candidate gene expression in monocytes prospectively in NCC
patients during therapy and as their lesions change, and will be compared with expression levels of the same
genes in whole blood. Specific Aim 2 will identify the proteins/peptides causing differentially expressed mass
peaks in serum of patients with NCC-associated seizures and confirm their specificity to NCC. Tandem MS/MS
will be used to identify proteins linked to ESI-MS mass peaks that discriminate between NCC-associated
seizures and other group of patients. Capacity Building Aim 1 will train one junior faculty member and one
research fellow in the use of mass spectrometry as a diagnostic tool. Capacity Building Aim 2 will train
laboratory personnel at all levels in cellular and molecular techniques used to study host responses to
infection. Successful completion of these aims will identify candidate biomarkers of NCC-associated seizures
for field testing...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9934305
- **Project number:** 5R01NS098891-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA HLTH SCIENCES CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Helene Carabin
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $506,046
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-07-15 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9934305

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9934305, Using Host Responses to Neurocysticercosis to Develop Novel, Brain-imaging Free Diagnostics: a US-India Partnership (5R01NS098891-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9934305. Licensed CC0.

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