# Cathepsin S Is More Abundant in Serum of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis-Infected Dairy Cows

## TL;DR

This study identifies Cathepsin S as a potential biomarker for detecting Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection in dairy cows.

## Contribution

The study identifies Cathepsin S as a novel serum biomarker for bovine paratuberculosis.

## Key findings

- Serum proteomics revealed 60 and 90 differentially abundant proteins in MAP-infected cows compared to control groups.
- Cathepsin S (CTSS) was found to be more abundant in infected cows and is linked to immune-related pathways.
- CTSS was confirmed as a potential biomarker using Western blotting.

## Abstract

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the causative agent of bovine paratuberculosis, a chronic granulomatous enteritis leading to economic losses and posing a risk to human health due to its zoonotic potential. The pathogen cannot reliably be detected by standard methods, and immunological procedures during the infection are not well understood. Therefore, the aim of our study was to explore host–pathogen interactions in MAP-infected dairy cows and to improve diagnostic tests. Serum proteomics analysis using quantitative label-free LC-MS/MS revealed 60 differentially abundant proteins in MAP-infected dairy cows compared to healthy controls from the same infected herd and 90 differentially abundant proteins in comparison to another control group from an uninfected herd. Pathway enrichment analysis provided new insights into the immune response to MAP and susceptibility to the infection. Furthermore, we found a higher abundance of Cathepsin S (CTSS) in the serum of MAP-infected dairy cows, which is involved in multiple enriched pathways associated with the immune system. Confirmed with Western blotting, we identified CTSS as a potential biomarker for bovine paratuberculosis. This study enabled a better understanding of procedures in the host–pathogen response to MAP and improved detection of paratuberculosis-diseased cattle.