scholarly journals A novel in-cell ELISA assay allows rapid and automated quantification of SARS-CoV-2 to analyse neutralizing antibodies and antiviral compounds

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Schöler ◽  
Vu Thuy Khanh Le-Trilling ◽  
Mareike Eilbrecht ◽  
Denise Mennerich ◽  
Olympia E. Anastasiou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Antiviral Agents ◽  
Neutralization Assay ◽  
Specific Antibodies ◽  
Antiviral Compounds ◽  
Automated Quantification ◽  
Duration Of Infection ◽  
Human Sera ◽  
Infected Cells ◽  
Cell Elisa

AbstractThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is currently the most pressing medical and socioeconomic challenge. Constituting important correlates of protection, determination of virus-neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) is indispensable for convalescent plasma selection, vaccine candidate evaluation, and immunity certificates. In contrast to standard serology ELISAs, plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNTs) are laborious, time-consuming, expensive, and restricted to specialized laboratories. To replace microscopic counting-based SARS-CoV-2 PRNTs by a novel assay exempt from genetically modified viruses, which are inapplicable in most diagnostics departments, we established a simple, rapid, and automated SARS-CoV-2 neutralization assay employing an in-cell ELISA (icELISA) approach.After optimization of various parameters such as virus-specific antibodies, cell lines, virus doses, and duration of infection, SARS-CoV-2-infected cells became amenable as direct antigen source for quantitative icELISA. Using commercially available nucleocapsid protein-specific antibodies, viral infection could easily be quantified in human and highly permissive Vero E6 cells by icELISA. Antiviral agents such as human sera containing NAbs or antiviral interferons dose-dependently reduced the SARS-CoV-2-specific signal. Applying increased infectious doses, the icNT was superior to PRNT in discriminating convalescent sera with high from those with intermediate neutralizing capacities.The SARS-CoV-2 icELISA test allows rapid (<48h in total, read-out in seconds) and automated quantification of virus infection in cell culture to evaluate the efficacy of NAbs as well as antiviral drugs, using reagents and equipment present in most routine diagnostics departments. We propose the icELISA and the icNT for COVID-19 research and diagnostics.

scholarly journals A Novel In-Cell ELISA Assay Allows Rapid and Automated Quantification of SARS-CoV-2 to Analyze Neutralizing Antibodies and Antiviral Compounds

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Schöler ◽  
Vu Thuy Khanh Le-Trilling ◽  
Mareike Eilbrecht ◽  
Denise Mennerich ◽  
Olympia E. Anastasiou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Elisa Assay ◽  
Antiviral Compounds ◽  
Automated Quantification ◽  
Cell Elisa

scholarly journals A rapid real-time polymerase chain reaction-based live virus microneutralization assay for detection of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in blood/serum

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syed Hani Abidi ◽  
Kehkeshan Imtiaz ◽  
Akbar Kanji ◽  
Shama Qaiser ◽  
Erum Khan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Vero Cells ◽  
Neutralization Assay ◽  
Dilution Method ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Live Virus ◽  
Viral Neutralization ◽  
Microneutralization Assay ◽  
Infected Cells

Abstract Background Individuals recovering from COVID-19 are shown to have antibodies against the Spike and other structural proteins. Antibodies against Spike have been shown to display viral neutralization. However, not all antibodies against Spike have neutralizing ability and some may be cross-reactive. There is a need for easy-to-use SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing assays that allow the determination of virus neutralizing activity in sera of individuals. Here we describe a PCR-based micro-neutralization assay that can be used to evaluate the viral neutralization titers of serum from SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals. Methods The SARS-CoV-2 strain used was isolated from a nasopharyngeal specimen of a COVID-19 case. The limiting dilution method was used to obtain a 50% tissue culture infective dose (TCID50) of Vero cells. For the micro‐neutralization assay, 19 serum samples, with positive IgG titers against Spike receptor binding domain (RBD) were tested. After 24 hours, infected cells were inspected for the presence of the cytopathic effect, then lysed and RNA RT-PCR of SARS-CoV-2. The Ct values were used to calculate percent neutralization/inhibition of SARS-CoV-2. Results Out of 19 samples, 13 samples gave 100% neutralization at all dilutions, while 4 samples gave neutralization at lower dilution, while one sample did not give any neutralization. The correlation between RBD OD and neutralization potential was found to be statistically correlated. Conclusion We describe a rapid RT-PCR based SARS-CoV-2 microneutralization assay for detection of neutralizing antibodies. This can effectively be used to test anti-viral activity of serum antibodies for investigation of both disease-driven and vaccine-induced responses.

scholarly journals Scalable, Micro-Neutralization Assay for Qualitative Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Virus-Neutralizing Antibodies in Human Clinical Samples

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard S. Bennett ◽  
Elena N. Postnikova ◽  
Janie Liang ◽  
Robin Gross ◽  
Steven Mazur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Imaging System ◽  
Neutralization Assay ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Specific Test ◽  
Multiple Virus ◽  
Infected Cells

AbstractAs the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic was expanding, it was clear that effective testing for the presence of neutralizing antibodies in the blood of convalescent patients would be critical for development of plasma-based therapeutic approaches. To address the need for a high-quality neutralization assay against SARS-CoV-2, a previously established fluorescence reduction neutralization assay (FRNA) against Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was modified and optimized. The SARS-CoV-2 FRNA provides a quantitative assessment of a large number of infected cells through use of a high-content imaging system. Because of this approach, and the fact that it does not involve subjective interpretation, this assay is more efficient and more accurate than other neutralization assays. In addition, the ability to set robust acceptance criteria for individual plates and specific test wells provided further rigor to this assay. Such agile adaptability avails use with multiple virus variants. By February 2021, the SARS-CoV-2 FRNA had been used to screen over 5,000 samples, including acute and convalescent plasma or serum samples and therapeutic antibody treatments, for SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing titers.

scholarly journals Cytolethal Distending Toxin (CDT)-Negative Campylobacter jejuni Strains and Anti-CDT Neutralizing Antibodies Are Induced during Human Infection but Not during Colonization in Chickens

2005 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 3053-3062 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manal AbuOun ◽  
Georgina Manning ◽  
Shaun A. Cawthraw ◽  
Anne Ridley ◽  
If H. Ahmed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Campylobacter Jejuni ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Neutralization Assay ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Site Directed Mutagenesis ◽  
Cytolethal Distending Toxin ◽  
Vitro Assay ◽  
Reverse Transcription Pcr ◽  
Human Sera

ABSTRACT The cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) of Campylobacter jejuni was detectable, using an in vitro assay, in most but not all of 24 strains tested. The reason for the absence of toxin activity in these naturally occurring CDT-negative C. jejuni strains was then investigated at the genetic level. CDT is encoded by three highly conserved genes, cdtA, -B, and -C. In the CDT-negative strains, two types of mutation were identified. The CDT activities of C. jejuni strains possessing both types of mutation were successfully complemented with the functional genes of C. jejuni 11168. The first type of mutation comprised a 667-bp deletion across cdtA and cdtB and considerable degeneration in the remainder of the cdt locus. Using a PCR technique to screen for this deletion, this mutation occurred in fewer than 3% of 147 human, veterinary, and environmental strains tested. The second type of mutation involved at least four nonsynonymous nucleotide changes, but only the replacement of proline with serine at CdtB position 95 was considered important for CDT activity. This was confirmed by site-directed mutagenesis. This type of mutation also occurred in fewer than 3% of strains as determined using a LightCycler biprobe assay. The detection of two CDT-negative clinical isolates raised questions about the role of CDT in some cases of human campylobacteriosis. To determine if anti-CDT antibodies are produced in human infection, a toxin neutralization assay was developed and validated using rabbit antisera. Pooled human sera from infected patients neutralized the toxin, indicating expression and immunogenicity during infection. However, no neutralizing antibodies were detected in colonized chickens despite the expression of CDT in the avian gut as indicated by reverse transcription-PCR.

scholarly journals Maintenance of neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 antibodies over five months in convalescent SARS-CoV-2 afflicted patients.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sissy Sonnleitner ◽  
Martina Prelog ◽  
Bainca Jansen ◽  
Chantal Rodgarkia-Dara ◽  
Sarah Gietl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Primary Infection ◽  
Protective Immunity ◽  
Neutralization Assay ◽  
Immunofluorescence Assay ◽  
Crucial Importance ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Specific Antibodies ◽  
Chemiluminescent Immunoassay ◽  
Type Infection

Level and duration of protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 after primary infection is of crucial importance for preventive approaches. In order to provide evidence for the longevity of specific antibodies, we investigated the generation and maintenance of neutralizing antibodies of convalescent SARS-CoV-2-afflicted patients over a five month period post primary infection using an immunofluorescence assay, a commercial chemiluminescent immunoassay and an in-house enzyme-linked plaque-reduction neutralization assay. We present the successful application of an improved version of the plaque-reduction neutralization assay, which can be analyzed optometrically, significantly simplifying the interpretation of the results. Based on the results of the plaque-reduction neutralization assay, neutralizing antibodies were maintained in 85.3% of convalescent individuals without significant decay over five months. Furthermore, a positive correlation between severity of infection and neutralizing titer was shown. In conclusion, SARS-CoV-2-afflicted individuals have been proven to be able to establish and maintain neutralizing antibodies over a five months’ period after primary infection which allows to hope for long-lasting presumably protective humoral immunity after wild-type infection or even after vaccination.

scholarly journals α-Hemolysin-Aided Oligomerization of the Spike Protein RBD Resulted in Improved Immunogenicity and Neutralization Against SARS-CoV-2 Variants

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jintao Zou ◽  
Haiming Jing ◽  
Xiaoli Zhang ◽  
Yiheng Liu ◽  
Zhuo Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Vaccine Development ◽  
Neutralization Assay ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Wild Type Virus ◽  
Carrier Protein ◽  
Specific Antibodies ◽  
Linear Epitopes ◽  
Cellular Immune ◽  
Candidate Antigen

The increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases and SARS-CoV-2 variants calls for the development of safe and broad cross-protective vaccines. The RBD of the spike protein was considered to be a safe and effective candidate antigen. However, the low immunogenicity limited its application in vaccine development. Herein, we designed and obtained an RBD heptamer (mHla-RBD) based on a carrier protein-aided assembly strategy. The molecular weight of mHla-RBD is up to 450 kDa, approximately 10 times higher than that of the RBD monomer. When formulated with alum adjuvant, mHla-RBD immunization significantly increased the immunogenicity of RBD, as indicated by increased titers of RBD-specific antibodies, neutralizing antibodies, Th2 cellular immune response, and pseudovirus neutralization activity, when compared to RBD monomer. Furthermore, we confirmed that RBD-specific antibodies predominantly target conformational epitopes, which was approximately 200 times that targeting linear epitopes. Finally, a pseudovirus neutralization assay revealed that neutralizing antibodies induced by mHla-RBD against different SARS-CoV-2 variants were comparable to those against the wild-type virus and showed broad-spectrum neutralizing activity toward different SARS-CoV-2 variants. Our results demonstrated that mHla-RBD is a promising candidate antigen for development of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and the mHla could serve as a universal carrier protein for antigen design.

scholarly journals A rapid real-time polymerase chain reaction-based live virus microneutralization assay for detection of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in blood/serum

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0259551
Author(s):  
Syed Hani Abidi ◽  
Kehkashan Imtiaz ◽  
Akbar Kanji ◽  
Shama Qaiser ◽  
Erum Khan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Vero Cells ◽  
Neutralization Assay ◽  
Dilution Method ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Live Virus ◽  
Viral Neutralization ◽  
Microneutralization Assay ◽  
Infected Cells

Background Individuals recovering from COVID-19 are known to have antibodies against the Spike and other structural proteins. Antibodies against Spike have been shown to display viral neutralization. However, not all antibodies against Spike have neutralizing ability although they may be cross-reactive. There is a need for easy-to-use SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing assays for the determination of virus-neutralizing activity in sera of individuals. Here we describe a PCR-based micro‐neutralization assay that can be used to evaluate the viral neutralization titers of serum from SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals. Methods The SARS-CoV-2 strain used was isolated from a nasopharyngeal specimen of a COVID-19 case. The limiting dilution method was used to obtain a 50% tissue culture infective dose (TCID50) of Vero cells. For the micro‐neutralization assay, 19 serum samples, with positive IgG titers against Spike Receptor-Binding Domain (RBD) were tested. After 24 hours, infected cells were inspected for the presence of a cytopathic effect, lysed and RNA RT-PCR conducted for SARS-CoV-2. PCR target Ct values were used to calculate percent neutralization/inhibition of SARS-CoV-2. Results Out of 19 samples, 13 samples gave 100% neutralization at all dilutions, 1 sample showed neutralization at the first dilution, 4 samples showed neutralization at lower dilutions, while one sample did not demonstrate any neutralization. The RBD ODs and neutralization potential percentages were found to be positively correlated. Conclusion We describe a rapid RT-PCR-based SARS-CoV-2 microneutralization assay for the detection of neutralizing antibodies. This can effectively be used to test the antiviral activity of serum antibodies for the investigation of both disease-driven and vaccine-induced responses.

scholarly journals Identification of Human Papillomavirus Type 16 L1 Surface Loops Required for Neutralization by Human Sera

2006 ◽  
Vol 80 (10) ◽  
pp. 4664-4672 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph J. Carter ◽  
Greg C. Wipf ◽  
Margaret M. Madeleine ◽  
Stephen M. Schwartz ◽  
Laura A. Koutsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Papillomavirus ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Neutralization Assay ◽  
Variable Regions ◽  
Neutralizing Activity ◽  
Variable Surface ◽  
Human Sera ◽  
Surface Loops ◽  
Neutralizing Epitopes

ABSTRACT The variable surface loops on human papillomavirus (HPV) virions required for type-specific neutralization by human sera remain poorly defined. To determine which loops are required for neutralization, a series of hybrid virus-like particles (VLPs) were used to adsorb neutralizing activity from HPV type 16 (HPV16)-reactive human sera before being tested in an HPV16 pseudovirion neutralization assay. The hybrid VLPs used were composed of L1 sequences of either HPV16 or HPV31, on which one or two regions were replaced with homologous sequences from the other type. The regions chosen for substitution were the five known loops that form surface epitopes recognized by monoclonal antibodies and two additional variable regions between residues 400 and 450. Pretreatment of human sera, previously found to react to HPV16 VLPs in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, with wild-type HPV16 VLPs and hybrid VLPs that retained the neutralizing epitopes reduced or eliminated the ability of sera to inhibit pseudovirus infection in vitro. Surprisingly, substitution of a single loop often ablated the ability of VLPs to adsorb neutralizing antibodies from human sera. However, for all sera tested, multiple surface loops were found to be important for neutralizing activity. Three regions, defined by loops DE, FG, and HI, were most frequently identified as being essential for binding by neutralizing antibodies. These observations are consistent with the existence of multiple neutralizing epitopes on the HPV virion surface.

scholarly journals Characterization of Epitope-Specific Anti-Respiratory Syncytial Virus (Anti-RSV) Antibody Responses after Natural Infection and after Vaccination with Formalin-Inactivated RSV

2016 ◽  
Vol 90 (13) ◽  
pp. 5965-5977 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivy Widjaja ◽  
Oliver Wicht ◽  
Willem Luytjes ◽  
Kees Leenhouts ◽  
Peter J. M. Rottier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Antigenic Site ◽  
Virus Neutralization ◽  
Specific Antibodies ◽  
F Protein ◽  
Human Sera ◽  
Cotton Rats ◽  
Syncytial Virus ◽  
Antibody Levels

ABSTRACTAntibodies against the fusion (F) protein of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) play an important role in the protective immune response to this important respiratory virus. Little is known, however, about antibody levels against multiple F-specific epitopes induced by infection or after vaccination against RSV, while this is important to guide the evaluation of (novel) vaccines. In this study, we analyzed antibody levels against RSV proteins and F-specific epitopes in human sera and in sera of vaccinated and experimentally infected cotton rats and the correlation thereof with virus neutralization. Analysis of human sera revealed substantial diversity in antibody levels against F-, G (attachment)-, and F-specific epitopes between individuals. The highest correlation with virus neutralization was observed for antibodies recognizing prefusion-specific antigenic site Ø. Nevertheless, our results indicate that high levels of antibodies targeting other parts of the F protein can also mediate a potent antiviral antibody response. In agreement, sera of experimentally infected cotton rats contained high neutralizing activity despite lacking antigenic site Ø-specific antibodies. Strikingly, vaccination with formalin-inactivated RSV (FI-RSV) exclusively resulted in the induction of poorly neutralizing antibodies against postfusion-specific antigenic site I, although antigenic sites I, II, and IV were efficiently displayed in FI-RSV. The apparent immunodominance of antigenic site I in FI-RSV likely explains the low levels of neutralizing antibodies upon vaccination and challenge and may play a role in the vaccination-induced enhancement of disease observed with such preparations.IMPORTANCERSV is an importance cause of hospitalization of infants. The development of a vaccine against RSV has been hampered by the disastrous results obtained with FI-RSV vaccine preparations in the 1960s that resulted in vaccination-induced enhancement of disease. To get a better understanding of the antibody repertoire induced after infection or after vaccination against RSV, we investigated antibody levels against fusion (F) protein, attachment (G) protein, and F-specific epitopes in human and animal sera. The results indicate the importance of prefusion-specific antigenic site Ø antibodies as well as of antibodies targeting other epitopes in virus neutralization. However, vaccination of cotton rats with FI-RSV specifically resulted in the induction of weakly neutralizing, antigenic site I-specific antibodies, which may play a role in the enhancement of disease observed after vaccination with such preparations.

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