SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped, positive-strand RNA virus that contains four structural proteins: spike, envelope, membrane, and nucleocapsid (N-protein). The N-protein participates in virus RNA packaging and particle release, is conserved within SARS-CoV-2 isolates, is highly immunogenic, and is abundantly expressed during SARS-CoV-2 infection. For these reasons, the N-protein could be used as a marker for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in early infection when antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 have not been produced yet. This paper describes the production and characterization of mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAb) and rabbit polyclonal antibodies (pAb) specific for the M20P19 peptide (N-protein linear epitope) for detection purposes. For this study, B-cell hybridomas were generated from mice independently immunized with two different M20P19 peptide-carrier protein conjugates: (1) meningococcal protein P64K; and (2) the keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). Rabbits were also independently immunized with these two immunogens. Study results demonstrated that the M20P19 peptide was very immunogenic in mice and rabbits, and both mAb and pAb specifically recognized the non-conjugated M20P19 peptide, conjugated M20P19 peptide, and N-protein with high affinity and specificity, which could allow SARS-CoV-2 detection by different analytical techniques. This study corroborated that specific and high affinity constant mAb and pAb against the M20P19 peptide can be used as biological reagents for specific and rapid SARS-CoV-2 detection, mainly in tissue samples.
Tag: <span>diagnostics</span>
When analyzing the complete market for human diagnostic products, with an estimated value of $30 billion annually, the $2 billion market for molecular diagnostic methods is still relatively small. However, with a growth rate of 20% per year, this segment is growing faster than any other in in vitro diagnostics. The reason for this is that healthcare systems have just begun tapping the tremendous potential to which this new technology gives us access. Whereas in the past, large reference laboratories and academic teaching hospitals were the driving force, today the customer base is increasingly made up of smaller diagnostic labs and clinics. Other features of the market are the wide-reaching protection of intellectual property and high product values, due to the significantly higher development and production costs…
Foreign substances, such as disease-causing viruses and other infectious agents are recognized by the body’s immune system as invaders. Parts of the spectrum of our defenses are antibodies that bind these antigens and direct their destruction by other elements of the immune system. Antibodies have two very useful characteristics. First, they are extremely specific; that is, each antibody binds to one particular antigen. Second, the body retains the memory of encounters with antigens, enabling it to reproduce an antibody response to a later attack by that that same agent or disease. These properties make it possible to develop vaccines. It is the first trait of antibodies, their specificity, which makes monoclonal antibody (MAb) technology so valuable. Not only can antibodies be used therapeutically, to protect against disease, they also can help diagnose a wide variety of illnesses and can detect the presence of infectious agents (including biological threat agent). The use of MAbs specific for biological warfare agents in fielded assays requires maintaining a high-quality and economical supply of these reagents…