Out-licensing

Early Detection of SARS-Associated Coronavirus Infection's Detection of Different Isotypes of Immunoglobulin the Serum of SARS Patients

Introduction/Background

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus, called SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). SARS was first reported in Asia in February 2003. Over the next few months, the illness spread to more than two dozen countries in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia before the SARS global outbreak of 2003 was contained.

Aims/Hypothesis

At present, there is no report using multiple recombinant proteins-based Western blot analysis or ELISA to detect different isotypes of immunoglobulin in the serum of SARS patients.

Research

In this invention, a variety of recombinant proteins of SARS-associated coronavirus were expressed and purified from E. coli system. Six recombinant proteins were used to detect various immunoglobulin classes in the sera of probable SARS patients with Western blot (WB) analysis. The data indicated that the WB by using 4 recombinant proteins as antigens showed a high correlation with IFA assay using whole virus lysates as antigens with an overall agreement of 90%. If both RT-PCR and WB assays were carried out simultaneously, the laboratory confirmed rate of SARS patients showed a raise of 13.4%, from 53.3% (RT-PCR alone) to 66.7%. In addition, different isotypes of immunoglobulins appear at different time during the course of SARS-CoV infection.

Conclusion

Six recombinant proteins were used to detect various immunoglobulin classes in the sera of probable SARS patients with WB analysis. Recombinant protein-based Western blot analysis or ELISA will be used to detect different isotypes of immunoglobulin in the serum of SARS patients at early stage of illness onset.

Relevance/Opportunity

We are currently seeking licensing or codevelopment partners. Please enquire if you are interested quoting reference no. 11A-920721.

Preclinical