Establishment and clinical validation of an in-cell-ELISA-based assay for the rapid quantification of Rabies lyssavirus neutralizing antibodies. 2022

Lara Schöler, and Vu Thuy Khanh Le-Trilling, and Ulf Dittmer, and Melanie Fiedler, and Mirko Trilling
Institute for Virology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.

Neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) prevent the entry of viruses into permissive cells. Since nAbs represent correlates of protection against the Rabies lyssavirus, the presence of sufficient nAbs indicates effective vaccination. Accordingly, Rabies lyssavirus-specific nAb titers need to be determined in routine diagnostics to identify individuals being at risk of Rabies lyssavirus infections due to insufficient immunity. The current gold standard for the quantification of Rabies lyssavirus-specific nAbs is the rapid fluorescent focus inhibition test (RFFIT). However, RFFITs are expensive and labor-intensive since multiple microplate wells must be evaluated one-by-one by trained personnel through microscopic inspection, which limits the number of samples that can be processed. To overcome this disadvantage, we established a novel assay for Rabies lyssavirus-specific nAbs relying on an in-cell-ELISA (icELISA)-based neutralization test (icNT). The icNT differs from the RFFIT in the readout phase, and can be automatically quantified in minutes using broadly available microplate readers. During the establishment, icNT parameters such as antibody concentrations, permeabilization procedures, blocking reagents, infectious doses, and the duration of infection were optimized. Afterwards, a dose-dependent detection of Rabies lyssavirus neutralization was demonstrated using the WHO Standard Rabies Immunoglobulin reference. A panel of 200 sera with known RFFIT titers revealed very good sensitivity and specificity of the icNT. Furthermore, the icNT showed very good intra- and inter-assay precision. By recognizing Rabies lyssavirus-specific antigens, the assay can be applied immediately to automatically quantify the concentration of Rabies lyssavirus nAbs in routine diagnostics or for various basic research questions such as screening for antiviral compounds.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009500 Neutralization Tests The measurement of infection-blocking titer of ANTISERA by testing a series of dilutions for a given virus-antiserum interaction end-point, which is generally the dilution at which tissue cultures inoculated with the serum-virus mixtures demonstrate cytopathology (CPE) or the dilution at which 50% of test animals injected with serum-virus mixtures show infectivity (ID50) or die (LD50). Neutralization Test,Test, Neutralization,Tests, Neutralization
D011818 Rabies Acute VIRAL CNS INFECTION affecting mammals, including humans. It is caused by RABIES VIRUS and usually spread by contamination with virus-laden saliva of bites inflicted by rabid animals. Important animal vectors include the dog, cat, bat, fox, raccoon, skunk, and wolf. Encephalitic Rabies,Furious Rabies,Hydrophobia,Paralytic Rabies,Lyssa,Furious Raby,Lyssas,Rabies, Encephalitic,Rabies, Furious,Raby, Furious
D011819 Rabies Vaccines Vaccines or candidate vaccines used to prevent and treat RABIES. The inactivated virus vaccine is used for preexposure immunization to persons at high risk of exposure, and in conjunction with rabies immunoglobulin, for postexposure prophylaxis. Rabies Human Diploid Cell Vaccine,Rabies Vaccine,Vaccine, Rabies,Vaccines, Rabies
D011820 Rabies virus The type species of LYSSAVIRUS causing rabies in humans and other animals. Transmission is mostly by animal bites through saliva. The virus is neurotropic multiplying in neurons and myotubes of vertebrates. Rabies viruses
D004797 Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay An immunoassay utilizing an antibody labeled with an enzyme marker such as horseradish peroxidase. While either the enzyme or the antibody is bound to an immunosorbent substrate, they both retain their biologic activity; the change in enzyme activity as a result of the enzyme-antibody-antigen reaction is proportional to the concentration of the antigen and can be measured spectrophotometrically or with the naked eye. Many variations of the method have been developed. ELISA,Assay, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent,Assays, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent,Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay,Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays,Immunosorbent Assay, Enzyme-Linked,Immunosorbent Assays, Enzyme-Linked
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000914 Antibodies, Viral Immunoglobulins produced in response to VIRAL ANTIGENS. Viral Antibodies
D000956 Antigens, Viral Substances elaborated by viruses that have antigenic activity. Viral Antigen,Viral Antigens,Antigen, Viral
D057134 Antibodies, Neutralizing Antibodies that reduce or abolish some biological activity of a soluble antigen or infectious agent, usually a virus. Neutralizing Antibodies,Antibody, Neutralizing,Neutralizing Antibody
D018114 Lyssavirus A genus of the family RHABDOVIRIDAE that includes RABIES VIRUS and other rabies-like viruses. Australian bat lyssavirus,Australian bat lyssaviruses,Lyssaviruses,lyssavirus, Australian bat

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