Researchers
have succeeded in detecting anti-avian influenza virus antibody in blood serum
within 20 minutes, using a portable analyzer they have developed to conduct
rapid on-site bio tests. If a suitable reagent is developed, this technology
could be used to detect antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, the causative virus of
COVID-19.
Avian
influenza is a poultry disease caused by influenza A virus infection. Rapid
initial response for a suspected infection and continuous surveillance are
essential to mitigate the damage from highly pathogenic, transmittable
pathogens such as avian influenza viruses.
Generally,
the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method is used to detect the viral genome,
but its complicated procedure requires a considerable amount of time. Another
method involves detecting antibodies produced in the body in reaction to virus
infection. However, widely used antibody detection methods can be inaccurate
because the antibodies' existence is generally determined by eyesight.
Researchers
have developed a new method and analyzer capable of rapid, facile and selective
detection of antibodies. The method is based on conventional fluorescence
polarization immunoassay (FPIA) but applies a different measurement mechanism
to make the analyzer much smaller and portable. The analyzer weighs only 5.5
kilograms.
The combined use of
liquid crystal molecules, an image sensor and the microfluidic device makes it
possible to simultaneously examine multiple samples and reduces the volume of
each sample required. Liquid crystal molecules are capable of controlling the
polarization direction of fluorescent light, while the microfluidic device has
a number of microchannels as a measurement vessel.
The
group also developed a reagent to detect anti-H5 avian influenza virus
antibody, a fluorescein-labeled protein that binds only with the antibody. The
reagent was made by reproducing hemagglutinin (HA) protein fragments, which are
expressed on the surface of H5 avian influenza virus, through gene
recombination and by labeling fluorescent molecules to the fragments.
See:
Keine Nishiyama,
Yohei Takeda, Masatoshi Maeki, Akihiko Ishida, Hirofumi Tani, Koji Shigemura,
Akihide Hibara, Yutaka Yonezawa, Kunitoshi Imai, Haruko Ogawa, Manabu Tokeshi.
Rapid detection of anti-H5 avian influenza virus antibody by fluorescence
polarization immunoassay using a portable fluorescence polarization analyzer.
Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2020; 316: 128160 DOI:
10.1016/j.snb.2020.128160Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle, Pharmaceutical Microbiology Resources (http://www.pharmamicroresources.com/)
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