Development of fluorescence-linked immunosorbent assay for high throughput screening of interferon-gamma

Establishment of a Rapid and Convenient Fluoroimmunoassay Platform Using Antibodies Against PDL1 and HER2

The development of accurate and high-throughput tools for cancer biomarker detection is crucial for the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of diseases. In this study, we developed a simple and rapid fluorescence-linked immunosorbent assay (FLISA) using fluorescent dye-conjugated antibody fragments against programmed cell death ligand 1 (PDL1) and human epithelial growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). We optimized key steps in the FLISA process, including antigen immobilization, blocking, and antibody reaction, reading the assay time to 3 h-significantly faster compared to the 23 h duration of usual FLISA. The limit of detection for the rapid FLISA in detecting PDL1 was lower than that of FLISA, and the detection of HER2 was similar between the two methods, indicating that the rapid FLISA provides a fast and accurate approach for detecting PDL1 and HER2. This robust platform can be readily adapted for various fluoroimmunoassays targeting other antigens of interest.

A novel bioassay based on aptamer-functionalized magnetic nanoparticle for the detection of zearalenone using time resolved-fluorescence NaYF4: Ce/Tb nanoparticles as signal probe

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a non-steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin produced by fungi on stored grains. The earlier detection methods used for ZEN rely on expensive equipment, time-consuming sample preparation and temperature sensitive antibodies. The current work, proposed a novel strategy based on ZEN aptamer labeled with amine-functionalized magnetic nanoparticle (MNPs) as a capture probe and time-resolved fluorescence (TRFL) nanoparticles labeled with complementary DNA (cDNA) as a signal probe. Under the optimized conditions, TRFL intensity at 544 nm was used to measure ZEN (R² = 0.9920) in the range of 0.001-10 ng mL^-1 and limits of detection (LOD) for proposed method was 0.21 pg mL^-1. The specificity of bioassay was also determined by using other mycotoxins (OTA, AFB₂, DON and Patulin) and results showed that the aptamer are specific to recognize only ZEN. The analytical applications of the present bioassay in maize and wheat samples were also examined and results were compared with existing methods. Based on these findings, it is suggested to use current rapid and simple bioassay for the determination of ZEN in food and agricultural products.

Novel fluoroimmunoassays for detecting ochratoxin A using CdTe quantum dots

Novel direct and indirect competitive fluorescence-linked immunosorbent assays (cFLISA and icFLISA) for detection of ochratoxin A (OTA) were described using CdTe quantum dots (QDs) as fluorescent label. CdTe QDs were successfully synthesized, which had an emission wavelength of 615 nm. The high purity monoclonal antibody against OTA was prepared through cell thawing and the octylic acid-ammonium sulfate method. The OTA MAbs were successfully coupled with CdTe QDs, and which also retained the original biological activity. The 50% inhibition values (IC₅₀ ) of the cFLISA and icFLISA were 0.630 ng/mL, 0.234 ng/mL, the limits of detection (LOD) were 7.06 × 10^-3 and 4.15 × 10^-3  ng/mL, and detection ranges were 7.06 × 10^-3 - 18.34 ng/mL and 4.15 × 10^-3 - 4.88 ng/mL, in-order. The recoveries were 96.0-104.7% along with coefficients of variation (CVs) below 10%. The FLISA provided novel method for determination of OTA and the potential of MAb-CdTe QDs for the establishment of fluorescent immunochromatographic test strip.

A Magnetic Nanoparticle Based Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Sensitive Quantification of Zearalenone in Cereal and Feed Samples

A novel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on magnetic nanoparticles and biotin/streptavidin-HRP (MNP-bsELISA) was developed for rapid and sensitive detection of zearalenone (ZEN). The detection signal was enhanced and the sensitivity of the assay was improved by combined use of antibody-conjugated magnetic nanoparticles and biotin-streptavidin system. Under the optimized conditions, the regression equation for quantification of ZEN was y = −0.4287x + 0.3132 (R² = 0.9904). The working range was 0.07–2.41 ng/mL. The detection limit was 0.04 ng/mL and IC₅₀ was 0.37 ng/mL. The recovery rates of intra-assay and inter-assay ranged from 92.8%–111.9% and 91.7%–114.5%, respectively, in spiked corn samples. Coefficients of variation were less than 10% in both cases. Parallel analysis of cereal and feed samples showed good correlation between MNP-bsELISA and liquid chromatograph-tandem mass spectrometry (R² = 0.9283). We conclude that this method is suitable for rapid detection of zearalenone in cereal and feed samples in relevant laboratories.

Efficient duplex solid-phase fluorescent assay (dFISA) for the simultaneous detection of specific anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM due to refined conjugates

Toxoplasma gondii infections are very common, causing occasional central nervous system and eye diseases, and must be screened in prenatal care for efficient therapy. Here, we developed a duplex solid-phase fluorescent assay (dFISA) for the simultaneous detection of anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies in prenatal care screening for toxoplasmosis. Assays using commercially available ion-exchange purified conjugates yielded poor results and high background fluorescence. Same-well IgG/IgM dFISA with refined conjugates was used to test 140 samples from university students, 120 samples from pregnant women and 24 samples from adult volunteers at a large public hospital. We found that dFISA offers high concordance, specificity and reproducibility for IgG (Kappa=0.883) and IgM (Kappa=0.918), which is useful in high-throughput applications for antenatal care.

Monoclonal antibody-quantum dots CdTe conjugate-based fluoroimmunoassay for the determination of aflatoxin B1 in peanuts

A fluoroimmunoassay towards aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was presented using quantum dots as the fluorescent label. The CdTe QDs were successfully linked to the monoclonal antibody against AFB1. Based on the conjugated complexes, a novel direct competitive fluorescence-linked immunosorbent assay (cFLISA) was developed for AFB1 detection. The 50% inhibition value (IC50) of the cFLISA was 0.149ng/mL in peanuts matrix. The method performance included the limit of detection (LOD) of 0.016ng/mL and considerable recoveries of 85-117% at three fortification levels (0.075, 0.15, and 0.3ng/g) from spiked AFB1 blank peanuts samples, along with coefficients of variation (CVs) below 10%. The cFLISA provided an alternative of rapid and sensitive detection for AFB1 and, moreover provided great potential for multiplexed mycotoxins determination simultaneously.

Expression, purification and structural analysis of human IL-18 binding protein: a potent therapeutic molecule for allergy

BACKGROUND

While interleukin-18 (IL-18) plays an important role in the innate and adaptive immune responses, it can also cause severe allergic inflammatory reactions. Thus it is a molecule currently being targeted for therapy. The natural intrinsic inhibitor of IL-18 receptor activation, IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP), shows a great potential for the treatment of allergy.

METHODS

Expression and purification of recombinant human IL-18BP (rhIL-18BP) were performed using the baculovirus system to develop a therapeutic molecule for the treatment of IL-18-related diseases and to investigate the structural basis of its inhibitory mechanism.

RESULTS

Purified rhIL-18BP potently inhibited the production of interferon-gamma by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the presence of lipopolysaccharide and by human myelomonocytic KG-1 cells in the presence of IL-18 (IC50 = 0.4 nM). Surface plasmon resonance showed a high affinity (Kd = 0.46 nM) for rhIL-18BP in binding hIL-18. Structural analysis indicated that the stoichiometry between IL-18 and IL-18BP is 1 : 1 in solution and the model structure of the complex suggests that the key residues on IL-18 (L5, K53, S55) and the estimated key residues on IL-18BP (F93,Y97, F104) could have interactions. The structural mechanism of IL-18BP inhibition might be a competition for Site 2 on rIL-18 so that IL-18BP can prevent IL-18 receptor alpha from binding to Site 2 and inhibit IL-18 receptor activation.

CONCLUSIONS

IL-18BP has unique features with respect to its structure, binding mode and inhibitory mechanism. It is a molecule that has a great potential for the therapy of allergy.

A synergistic role for IL-1beta and TNFalpha in monocyte-derived IFNgamma inducing activity

Although much is known about classic IFNgamma inducers, little is known about the IFNgamma inducing capability of inflammasome-activated monocytes. In this study, supernatants from LPS/ATP-stimulated human monocytes were analyzed for their ability to induce IFNgamma production by KG-1 cells. Unexpectedly, monocyte-derived IFN inducing activity was detected, but it was completely inhibited by IL-1beta, not IL-18 blockade. Moreover, size-fractionation of the monocyte conditioned media dramatically reduced the IFNgamma inducing activity of IL-1beta, suggesting that IL-1beta requires a cofactor to induce IFNgamma production in KG-1 cells. Because TNFalpha is known to synergize with IL-1beta for various gene products, it was studied as the putative IL-1beta synergizing factor. Although recombinant TNFalpha (rTNFalpha) alone had no IFNgamma inducing activity, neutralization of TNFalpha in the monocyte conditioned media inhibited the IFNgamma inducing activity. Furthermore, rTNFalpha restored the IFNgamma inducing activity of the size-fractionated IL-1beta. Finally, rTNFalpha synergized with rIL-1beta, as well as with rIL-1alpha and rIL-18, for KG-1 IFNgamma release. These studies demonstrate a synergistic role between TNFalpha and IL-1 family members in the induction of IFNgamma production and give caution to interpretations of KG-1 functional assays designed to detect functional IL-18.

Fluorescence linked immunosorbant assays using microtiter plates

Fluorescence methods are widely used in the detection of antibodies and other binding events. However, as a general screening and detection tool in microtiter plates, enzyme linked immunosorbant (ELISA) methods predominate. In this paper we explore all parameters for effective use of fluorescence as a plate based detection method, including which microtiter plates can be used, the most effective means of immobilization, and the use of different fluorescent dyes or fluorescent proteins. These studies indicate that fluorescent immunosorbant assays (FLISA) can be used as effectively as enzymatic method in microtiter plate based screening methods, including the screening of phage antibody selections.