Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common and neglected parasitic diseases caused by the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii. The parasitic invasion in humans is associated with certain problems, such as the lack of effective immunoprophylaxis or a complex diagnostic algorithm, which require continuous improvement. Both problems can be overcome by the recent development of T. gondii proteomics, which has allowed the design of different recombinant antigens. In this study we evaluated the potential usefulness of nineteen recombinant chimeric T. gondii proteins for serodiagnosis. A chimeric antigen composed of the surface antigens SAG1-SAG2 was developed and used as the basis for the generation of 18 subsequent trivalent chimeric antigens containing different immunodominant fragments of the parasite proteins. The recombinant antigens were used in an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test to evaluate their ability to detect specific IgG antibodies in human sera. A total of 338 human sera were analyzed to assess the sensitivity and specificity of the tests. Sixteen of the antigens tested demonstrated 100% sensitivity and specificity in the ELISA for the detection of specific IgG antibodies. These results provide an optimistic outlook for the potential replacement of the currently used native antigen mix with recombinant antigens in human T. gondii serodiagnostics.

Tuberculosis is still one of the leading infectious causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Rapid diagnosis is essential for effective treatment and control of tuberculosis transmission. In recent years, nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs), such as GeneXpert MTB/RIF, BD MAX™, Xpert MTB/RIF-Ultra, have significantly improved tuberculosis diagnostics. However, they mainly require expensive and advanced equipment. The aim of our study was to assess the usefulness of the novel RITA MTBC assay in this diagnostic context. A total of 61 clinical specimens were tested using the RITA MTBC assay in comparison with established molecular diagnostic platforms (GeneXpert and BD MAX™), used as molecular reference assays. Culture and microscopy were performed as part of initial clinical assessment, but the comparative analysis focused on molecular assays to provide a relevant evaluation of diagnostic performance. Among 31 samples previously identified as positive for M. tuberculosis DNA, the assay correctly detected 30 (LOT HPA01/20230601) and 29 (LOT HPA01/20230602). Of 30 negative samples, 28 and 30 were confirmed negative for the respective lots. These results correspond to an average sensitivity of 95% and an average specificity of 97%. The kit demonstrated diagnostic performance that meets requirements for molecular testing in tuberculosis, with sensitivity and specificity comparable to established platforms, although further validation on larger sample sets is necessary. Nevertheless, its excellent specificity, rapid turnaround time, and operational simplicity, make it especially well-suited for decentralized or resource-limited settings. These findings underscore the potential of RITA MTBC as a valuable diagnostic tool in both routine clinical settings and in populations with limited access to healthcare.