Development of antigen detection ELISA for the diagnosis of brugian and bancroftian filariasis using antibodies to recombinant filarial antigens Bm-SXP-1 and Wb-SXP-1

Antibodies specific to recombinant filarial antigens Wb-SXP-1 and Bm-SXP-1 have been used to develop a sandwich ELISA for the detection of circulating filarial antigen (CFA) in sera from patients with lymphatic filariasis caused by Wuchereria bancrofti of Brugia malayi. In patients with W. bancrofti infections, a high proportion of microfilaria (mf) positive (MF) and low proportions of patients with chronic pathology (CP) and endemic normals (EN) showed the presence of CFA. Similarly in patients with brugian infections a high proportion of mf positive individuals contained CFA while none of the patients with chronic pathology or endemic normals showed the presence of CFA. Sera from patients with other parasitic infections (OPI) like O. volvulus, Loa loa, Ascaris lumbricoides and from individuals residing in areas non-endemic to filariasis did not exhibit any reactivity. This assay shows promise for the detection of microfilaremic infections in lymphatic filariasis and its usefulness as a diagnostic tool especially in B. malayi infections, needs to be further evaluated.     

Use of recombinant antigens for detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection in swine

Five recombinant Toxoplasma gondii antigens, designated B427, C51, C55, V22, and MBP30 were assessed for their potential use in an enzyme-linked immunoassay (EIA) for detection of T. gondii infection in swine. The antigens were evaluated with sera from young pigs that had been fed 1-10,000 T. gondii oocysts of the VEG or GT-1 strains. Results were compared with an EIA using a native T. gondii antigen extract. All 5 recombinant antigens, as well as native antigen, detected antibody responses as soon as 3 wk after infection in pigs inoculated with 1 or 10 oocysts of the VEG strain. This antibody response persisted, at varying levels, for 14 wk when the experiment was terminated. All antigens also detected antibody responses in pigs 4 wk after inoculation with 10,000 oocysts of the GT-1 strain. The antibody response recognized by native antigen remained high through 51 wk after inoculation. However, there was considerable animal-to-animal variation in responses to the individual recombinant antigens. Only antigens C51 and MBP30 consistently detected a positive antibody response over the entire 51-wk course of the experiment. These results suggest that these antigens might be useful for the serological detection of T. gondii infection in pigs.     

检测猪丹毒杆菌抗体重组SpaA ELISA的建立

【目的】利用表达纯化的猪丹毒杆菌表面保护性蛋白SpaA,建立检测猪丹毒杆菌抗体的间接ELISA方法。【方法】克隆扩增猪丹毒杆菌SpaA基因,并将SpaA基因与原核表达载体p GEX-6P-1连接,通过PCR、双酶切及测序鉴定后,将阳性重组质粒转化入受体菌E.coli Rosetta(DE3),并利用IPTG进行诱导表达,SDS-PAGE和Western blot鉴定表达产物。将SpaA重组蛋白按不同浓度包被酶标板,通过方阵滴定法确定最佳抗原包被浓度及血清稀释度,并对其他条件进行优化,最终建立检测猪丹毒杆菌抗体的间接ELISA方法。【结果】利用克隆表达的猪丹毒杆菌SpaA蛋白作抗原,通过方阵滴定法确定蛋白最佳包被浓度为1.0 mg/L,血清的最佳稀释度为1:100,建立了检测猪丹毒杆菌抗体的间接ELISA方法,批内及批间变异系数均小于10%,具有较好的重复性及特异性。用建立的间接ELISA方法检测猪丹毒疫苗免疫后的健康猪血清样品,检测结果与美国TSZ公司猪丹毒杆菌抗体检测试剂盒和Western blot鉴定结果进行对比,两者总符合率分别为92.20%、92.59%。【结论】试验利用原核表达的SpaA重组蛋白作抗原建立的检测猪丹毒杆菌抗体的间接ELISA方法,特异性强、重复性好、敏感性高,可用于猪丹毒杆菌的抗体检测及流行病学调查。     

Characterization of mouse parvovirus infection by in situ hybridization.

Infection of young adult BALB/cByJ mice with mouse parvovirus-1, a newly recognized, lymphocytotropic, nonpathogenic parvovirus, was examined by in situ hybridization. Virus appeared to enter through the small intestine and was disseminated to the liver and lymphoid tissues. Strand-specific probes detected virion DNA in a consistently larger number of cells than replicative forms of viral DNA and/or viral mRNA. The number of signal-positive cells in the intestinal mucosa, lymph nodes, spleen, and thymus increased through day 10 after oral inoculation but decreased after seroconversion. Positive cells were still detected, however, in peripheral lymphoid tissues of mice examined at 9 weeks postinoculation. The results underscore the need to assess potential effects of persistent mouse parvovirus-1 infection on immune function in mice.     

Use of a cellular ELISA for the detection of cell surface antigens.

A sensitive, convenient and inexpensive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is described for the detection and relative quantitation of cell surface antigens. The cells to be tested are rapidly glutaraldehyde-fixed to the wells of microtiter plates, which can be stored for later assay, if desired. Alternatively, adherent cells may be left unfixed. Following incubation with antibodies specific for the antigens of interest, an enzyme-linked second antibody conjugate is added, followed by the substrate for the enzyme, as in a conventional ELISA for soluble proteins. The method is a sensitive and accurate alternative to immunofluorescence flow cytometry for rapid and inexpensive screening of large numbers of cell samples.     

Development of recombinant antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of skatole

The occurrence of boar taint and the European Commission recommendation to discontinue the surgical castration of pigs by the year 2018 creates an urgent need for new analytical methods that are simple, affordable, and suitable for field testing. We describe the generation and engineering of a skatole-specific antibody derived from a synthetic antibody library and the development of ELISA for its detection. The immunoassay is capable of detecting skatole with IC50 of 222 μg L⁻¹, which is within the analytical threshold level suggested for skatole, and with low cross-reactivity interference from other indolic compounds.     

Differentiation of RNP- and SM-antibody subsets in SLE and MCTD patients by a new ELISA using recombinant antigens.

Connective tissue diseases often have overlapping clinical features and laboratory abnormalities. The distinctiveness of mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) as an entity is of scientific interest and practical importance. In order to discriminate between MCTD and SLE patients we used a newly developed, commercially not available ELISA with recombinant antigen expressed in Baculovirus infected cells. This ELISA detects antibodies against RNP and Sm in complex as well as the subsets U1-snRNP 68 kDa, RNP-A, RNP-C (RNP), Sm-BB' and SS-D. We analyzed 66 RNP-positive consecutive patients prediagnosed as SLE or MCTD/overlap-syndrome. 45/66 patients were found to be U1-snRNP-68 kDa positive (27 SLE, 18 MCTD), 51/66 RNP-A [36,15] and 44/66 RNP-C [31,13]. 35/66 had antibodies against Sm-BB' (30 SLE, 5 MCTD), 10/66 against Sm-D (all SLE). 28/66 were found to be U1-snRNP-68 kDa and Sm-BB' positive (23 SLE, 5 MCTD), while 8/66 where U1-snRNP-68 kDa and Sm-D positive (all SLE). The combination of antibodies against 68 kDa, Aand C was exclusively observed in 6 MCTD patients, while the combination against 68 kDa, A, C, Sm-BB' and Sm-D was restricted to 8 patients with SLE. The antibody combination to 68 kDa, A, C and Sm-BB' was also found in 11/20 SLE patients with major organ involvement. In SLE and MCTD, determination of subsets of antibodies against Ul-snRNP-68 kDa and Sm-complex allows a differentiation of patient subgroups with more definite diagnoses and potential prognostic impact.     

Reliability of soiled bedding transfer for detection of mouse parvovirus and mouse hepatitis virus

Serologic monitoring of sentinel mice exposed to soiled bedding is a common method of detecting viral infections in mice. Because bedding transfer protocols vary, the sensitivity of this method has not been documented sufficiently. We examined the reliability of bedding transfer during various stages of infection with mouse parvovirus (MPV) and mouse hepatitis virus (MHV). Most mice exposed to bedding contaminated with MPV 0, 3, or 7 d previously seroconverted, whereas only mice exposed to bedding contaminated with MHV 4 h previously seroconverted, thus confirming the differing stabilities of these viruses. Index mice were inoculated with 30 times the infectious dose 50 (ID50) of MPV or 300 ID50 of MHV. At 3 d, 1 wk, and 2 wk postinoculation (PI), we transferred 25, 50, or 100 ml of bedding to cages of sentinel mice. Viral infection and shedding by index mice was confirmed by serology and fecal polymerase chain reaction assay. Transfer of soiled bedding between mice in static cages induced seroconversion of sentinel mice most reliably during peak viral shedding (1 wk PI for MPV and 3 d PI for MHV). Soiled bedding transfer between mice in individually ventilated cages induced a higher prevalence of sentinel seroconversion to MPV and MHV than that after transfer between mice in static cages. Our findings indicate that although soiled bedding transfer is an effective method for detecting MHV and MPV under optimal conditions, the method is less than 100% reliable under many conditions in contemporary mouse facilities.     

Screening of Chagas disease using ELISA. Comparison of 2 antigens

After proving, in a previous study, the efficiency of immunoenzymology (ELISA) and a primary antigen of Trypanosoma cruzi in the screening of blood donors suffering from Chagas' disease, here the authors show the benefit of the microsomial fraction of this parasite as an antigen. For comparison, it was studied with another primary antigen, Trypanosa, used initially in the adjuvant treatment of cancers, and applied here to the screening of this disease.     

Chemiluminescence ELISA for the detection of antibodies to bovine leukaemia virus antigens

A chemiluminescence enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of antibodies to bovine leukaemia virus antigens (BLV) has been developed. The possibility of using an enhanced chemiluminescence reaction for the determination of adsorbed immunoperoxidase conjugates was studied in this work. The intensity of chemiluminescence depends on both the concentration of reagents and experimental conditions used. The efficiency of the assay is determined by the formation of an immobilized antigen monolayer. A relationship between the quantity of the protein added and adsorbed has been shown. The optimal time and temperature for the antigen–antibody incubation steps have been estimated for each system (3h at 37°C was chosen as a standard incubation time). A linear dependence of the chemiluminescence intensity and optical density on the concentration of antibodies to the BLV antigens was observed. The detection limit of antibodies in the chemiluminescence ELISA is 2–3 times lower than that in the spectrophotometric one. The results obtained indicate the possibility of using both methods.     

Development of recombinant inhibitors specific to human kallikrein 2 using phage-display selected substrates.

The reactive site loop of serpins undoubtedly defines in part their ability to inhibit a particular enzyme. Exchanges in the reactive loop of serpins might reassign the targets and modify the serpin-protease interaction kinetics. Based on this concept, we have developed a procedure to change the specificity of known serpins. First, reactive loops are very good substrates for the target enzymes. Therefore, we have used the phage-display technology to select from a pentapeptide phage library the best substrates for the human prostate kallikrein hK2 [Cloutier, S.M., Chagas, J.R., Mach, J.P., Gygi, C.M., Leisinger, H.J. & Deperthes, D. (2002) Eur. J. Biochem. 269, 2747-2754]. Selected substrates were then transplanted into the reactive site loop of alpha1-antichymotrypsin to generate new variants of this serpin, able to inhibit the serine protease. Thus, we have developed some highly specific alpha1-antichymotrypsin variants toward human kallikrein 2 which also show high reactivity. These inhibitors might be useful to help elucidate the importance of hK2 in prostate cancer progression.     

A more specific ELISA assay for the detection of antiphospholipid antibodies

The anticardiolipin ELISA assay was devised just over 10 years ago to detect patients with the APS, a disorder of recurrentthrombosis and/or pregnancy Though a series of workshops, the ELISA technique for detection of anticardiolipin antibodies has been standardized and units of measurement established.Manipulation of phospholipid antigens has enable a more specific detection of APS sera without loss of sensitivity. Inclusion of an in-house positive control in addition to calibrators may enable greater reproducibility of the anticardiolipin test. Since the lupus anticoagulant test alone may be positive, physicians should order both tests in patients suspected of having the APS. These patients need to be diagnosed since prophylactic tre prevent recurrent thrombosis and pregnancy losses.     

A monoclonal antibody-based ELISA for the detection of circulating excretory-secretory antigens in Taenia saginata cysticercosis.

A series of monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) produced against excretory and secretory products from 10- and 20-week-old Taenia saginata cysticerci were tested for their ability to detect circulating antigen in a double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Two MoAb, 12G5 and 2H8, proved to be highly reactive with the tegument of viable T. saginata cysticerci and recognized antigenic components of 65, 87 and 100 kDa in immunoblotting. The detection limit of the assay using 12G5 as trapping antibody and 2H8 as a biotinylated indicator antibody was 0.1 ng protein per ml. Although the sensitivity of the test varied from one animal to another, the minimum number of living cysticerci, which could be detected by the ELISA, was 88. Animals harbouring only dead cysticerci gave similar reactions as non-infected control animals. Cross-reactions were only observed with taeniid parasites. The test was able to detect circulating antigen also in sheep and pigs, respectively infected with T. ovis and T. solium and in the serum samples of confirmed cases of human T. solium cysticercosis.     

用ELISA法检测2.5S鼠神经生长因子

鼠颌下腺提纯的２５ＳＮＧＦ免疫家兔,获得兔抗ＮＧＦ抗体,研制出鼠２５ＳＮＧＦＥＬＩＳＡ检测试剂盒,该试剂盒灵敏度小于１ｎｇ／ｍｌ,在６７０～０８４ｎｇ／ｍｌ范围内,线性良好,ｒ＝０９９。与大鼠、小鼠及人血浆无非特异反应,在大鼠血浆中,ＮＧＦ样品回收率在９１％～１０７％之间,变异系数小于１０％（ｎ＝４）。结果表明：本试剂盒操作简便,灵敏度高,特异性强,适合药代动力学研究及生产过程中的ＮＧＦ检测。     

The detection of specific antigens in experimental anthrax

The dynamics of various specific antigens was studied in guinea pigs infected with strain 72/12 of Tsenkovski?'s second vaccine. The study showed that at the acute stage of the disease toxin antigens prevailed over the levels of somatic antigens and nonprotective protein with a molecular weight of 79 KD. The enzyme immunoassay system for the detection of the lethal toxin factor permitted the detection of the antigen in the blood sera of 100% of infected animals at the prodromal period and the acute stage of the disease. In pathological material obtained from skin lesions the presence of toxin antigens and nonprotective protein was registered in 90-100% of the animals. The diagnostic significance of these assays for the early rapid diagnosis of anthrax during lifetime, as well as for the postmortem rapid diagnosis of the disease.     

ELISA for the detection of specific IgM and IgG in human leptospirosis

ELISA was used to detect specific IgM and IgG in sera from humans with current or past leptospirosis. A serological pattern of a high IgM titre (greater than or equal to 1280), or moderately increased IgM (160-640) in conjunction with a low IgG titre (less than or equal to 20), with serovar copenhageni antigen was characteristic for approximately two-thirds of the sera from serovar icterohaemorrhagiae patients obtained in the first two months of the disease. The antigen was the supernatant of a heated and centrifuged culture of leptospires. Antigens were prepared from serovars copenhageni, grippotyphosa, hardjo and patoc. Sera from patients with icterohaemorrhagiae, grippotyphosa and hardjo infections showed cross-reactivity when different antigens were used. In past infections the IgG titres were clearly higher with the homologous antigen. ELISA for IgM and IgG allows the rapid diagnosis of acute leptospirosis.