Novel Immunoblot Assay Using Four Recombinant Antigens for Diagnosis of Epstein-Barr Virus Primary Infection and Reactivation

A new immunoblot assay, composed of four Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded recombinant proteins (virus capsid antigen [VCA] p23, early antigen [EA] p138, EA p54, and EBNA-1 p72), was compared with an immunofluorescence assay on a total of 291 sera. The test was accurate in 94.5% of cases of primary EBV infection, while an immunoglobulin G anti-VCA p23 band with strong intensity correlated with reactivation.     

Laboratory Diagnosis of Toscana Virus Infection by Enzyme Immunoassay with Recombinant Viral Nucleoprotein

A recombinant enzyme immunoassay (rEIA) to detect serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG to Toscana virus (TOSV) was developed with the aim of establishing a simple and easily available assay for diagnosing acute and/or previous infections. The rEIA, based on the recombinant nucleoprotein of TOSV expressed in Escherichia coli, was evaluated with 97 serum samples collected in an area where TOSV is endemic and compared to an analogous assay based on cell-derived TOSV. Discordant results were resolved by immunoblotting (IB). Twenty-two of these samples, obtained from subjects hospitalized during the summer season with meningitis of suspected TOSV etiology, were further characterized by indirect immunofluorescence and IB, and detection of specific TOSV RNA sequences in the cerebrospinal fluid of these patients was attempted by nested PCR. The results indicated that rEIA was able to diagnose acute TOSV infection by detection of specific serum IgM in all of the subjects with TOSV meningitis confirmed by nested PCR or serology. The overall sensitivity and specificity of rEIA were both 100% for IgM detection and 100 and 96.6%, respectively, for IgG detection. Thus, rEIA appears to be a simple and reliable laboratory test for the diagnosis of acute TOSV infection and for the assessment of immune status.     

Recombinant Antigen Targets for Serodiagnosis of African Swine Fever

African swine fever (ASF) is an infectious and economically important disease of domestic pigs. There is no vaccine, and so reliable diagnosis is essential for control strategies. The performance of four recombinant ASF virus (ASFV) protein (pK205R, pB602L, p104R, and p54)-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) was evaluated with European porcine field sera that had been established by Office International des Epizooties (OIE)-approved tests to be ASFV negative (n = 119) and ASFV positive (n = 80). The κ values showed that there was almost perfect agreement between the results of the “gold standard” test (immunoblotting) and the results obtained by the p54-specific ELISA (κ = 0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.90 to 0.99) and the pK205R-specific ELISA or the pB602L-specific ELISA (κ = 0.92; 95% CI, 0.86 to 0.97). For the pA104R-specific ELISA, there was substantial to almost perfect agreement (κ = 0.81; 95% CI, 0.72 to 0.89). Similar results were observed by the OIE-approved ELISA (κ = 0.89; 95% CI, 0.82 to 0.95). Importantly, antibodies against these proteins were detectable early after infection of domestic pigs. Preliminary testing of 9 positive and 17 negative serum samples from pigs from West Africa showed identical results by the recombinant protein-based ELISA and the OIE-approved tests. In contrast, there was a high degree of specificity but a surprisingly a low level of sensitivity with 7 positive and 342 negative serum samples from pigs from East Africa. With poorly preserved sera, only the p104R-specific ELISA showed a significant reduction in sensitivity compared to that of the OIE-approved ELISA. Finally, these recombinant proteins also detected antibodies in the sera of the majority of infected warthogs. Thus, recombinant ASFV proteins p54, pB602L, and pK205R provide sensitive and specific targets for the detection of antibodies in European and West African domestic pigs and warthogs.African swine fever (ASF) virus (ASFV) is an icosahedral cytoplasmic DNA virus that infects pigs and soft ticks of the Ornithodoros genus. This virus is the sole member of the family Asfarviridae (6). ASFV has variable pathogenicity in domestic pigs, with infections ranging from being highly lethal to subclinical. Infection of wildlife mammalian hosts, the warthog and the bushpig, on the other hand, results in an unapparent, nonpathogenic infection, which provides a potentially dangerous reservoir of virus. There is no vaccine. Therefore, rapid and specific diagnostic procedures are an essential component of any control strategy. In addition, the presence of virus strains with reduced virulence and the resulting presence of asymptomatic infected animals (4, 11) make the serological diagnosis the only realistic basis for the control of the disease in affected countries. As a general rule, pigs that survive natural infection develop antibodies against ASFV from 7 to 10 days after infection. These antibodies persist for long periods of time (16), perhaps due to continuous antigenic stimulation by the frequent occurrence of persistent infection. Thus, antibody detection is a rational approach to the detection of the subacute and chronic forms of the disease.The role of specific antibodies in immunity to ASFV infection in pigs has been controversial. The passive transfer of anti-ASFV antibodies delays the onset of clinical signs but does not consistently protect animals from eventual death (25, 26, 17). Similarly, vaccination with the putative protective proteins p30 and p54 conferred protection to only 50% of the tested animals (10). In a different study, in which no protection was observed after immunization against p54, p30, and p72, the only effects detected were a delay in the onset of clinical disease and a reduction in the level of viremia (15). Such observations emphasize the role of cell-mediated immune responses during ASFV infection. Indeed, a positive correlation was observed between the stimulation of NK cell activity and the absence of clinical symptoms after experimental infection, suggesting that NK cells play an important role in protective immunity (13). In addition to NK cells, CD8⁺ T cells may also play a role, as their depletion in vivo abrogates protective immunity to ASFV infection (18). Therefore, immunity to ASFV is likely to be due to a combination of both serological and cellular mechanisms. This complexity of the porcine immune response to ASFV has impaired the development of an effective vaccine but does justify diagnosis on the basis of the detection of antibodies.Current Office International des Epizooties (OIE)-approved assays for ASFV-specific antibody determination consist of an initial screening of sera by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (OIE-ELISA), followed by an immunoblotting assay to confirm the results for samples with doubtful and positive results. These OIE-approved tests are based on the use of live virus as the antigen and involve the requirement of level 3 biosafety facilities for the production and handling of the pathogen (16, 20, 21). The risk associated with the handling of live virus, together with the lack of reliability of the OIE-ELISA for the analysis of poorly preserved samples so often encountered in sera of African origin (1, 3), provides the stimulus for the development of alternative and more robust systems for the detection of anti-ASFV antibodies. Indeed, previous studies have demonstrated that recombinant viral proteins can give improved specificity and sensitivity when they are applied to the analysis of European field sera (9, 19, 22).In previous studies, 12 serological immunodeterminants of ASFV were characterized by exhaustive screening of a representative lambda phage cDNA expression library of the tissue culture-adapted Ba71V isolate of ASFV for antibodies (12). These included four proteins encoded by previously unassigned open reading frames (ORFs) (B602L, C44L, CP312R, and K205R), as well as some of the more well studied structural proteins (pA104R, p10, p32, p54, and p73) and three enzymes (RNA reductase, DNA ligase, and thymidine kinase). The complete sequence of each of these proteins was then recloned into pGEX for expression in Escherichia coli, followed by purification of the recombinant proteins and testing against sera from experimentally infected animals. Four of these proteins (p54/E183L, histone-like/pA104R, pB602L, and pK205R) were revealed to be promising targets for both immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM antibody responses (23), and further validation of these proteins as targets is the focus of this work. The results obtained by the analysis of a large collection of serum samples from susceptible animals from Europe and Africa were comparable to the results obtained by the OIE-ELISA prescribed for use for international trade.     

HAVCR1 Gene Haplotypes and Infection by Different Viral Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes

The hepatitis A virus cellular receptor 1 (HAVCR1) gene is highly polymorphic, and several variants have been associated with susceptibility to allergic and autoimmune diseases. The HAVCR1 gene region was identified as a candidate for hepatitis C virus (HCV) natural clearance in a genotyping study of selected immune response genes in both European-American and African-American populations. The aim of the present study was to explore the influence of HAVCR1 in the outcome of HCV infection in the Spanish population. Three cohorts, consisting of 354 subjects with persistent HCV infection (285 with persistent HCV monoinfection and 69 with natural clearance), 182 coinfected HIV/HCV patients, and 320 controls, were included. Samples were genotyped in several polymorphic positions, insertion/deletion variants in exon 4 and tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), in order to define previously described HAVCR1 haplotypes (haplotypes A to D). No statistically significant differences were observed with spontaneous resolution of infection or with viral clearance after treatment. Nevertheless, different rates of infection by viral genotypes (G''s) were observed among the HAVCR1 haplotypes. Individuals bearing haplotype C had the highest viral G1 infection rate when compared to individuals bearing other haplotypes (75.82% versus 57.72%, respectively; corrected P value [P_c], 3.2 × 10⁻⁴; odds ratio [OR], 2.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.51 to 3.47). Thus, HAVCR1 could be involved in susceptibility or resistance to infection by a particular HCV genotype.     

Diagnosis of Norwalk Virus Infection by Indirect Enzyme Immunoassay Detection of Salivary Antibodies to Recombinant Norwalk Virus Antigen

Simple diagnostic tests are needed for the detection of norovirus (NoV) outbreaks. Salivary antibody assays provide an attractive alternative to collecting and testing serum or stool samples. Antibodies to Norwalk virus (NV) in oral fluid samples were compared with NV antibodies in serum collected from 38 volunteers challenged with NV inoculum. Pre- and postchallenge (day 4, 8, 14, and 21) saliva and serum samples were examined by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) using recombinant NV antigen. Of 18 infected subjects (those who shed NV in stool or who demonstrated immunoglobulin G [IgG] seroconversion), 15 (83%) had ≥4-fold increases in NV-specific salivary IgA and 15 (83%) had ≥4-fold increases in NV-specific salivary IgG when prechallenge and postchallenge saliva samples were compared. When the results of the IgA and IgG assays were combined, all 18 infected subjects showed ≥4-fold increases in NV-specific salivary IgG or IgA postchallenge titers compared to their prechallenge titers. One of 19 uninfected subjects had a ≥4-fold increase in NV-specific salivary IgG. The sensitivity of the combined assay results was 100%, and the specificity was 95%. NV-specific salivary IgA titers peaked around 14 days postchallenge. NV-specific salivary IgG and serum IgG titers continued to rise through 21 days postchallenge. The application of this EIA to an elementary school outbreak indicated that 67% of the subjects with confirmed infections had >4-fold rises in anti-NoV IgA when an antigen in the same genetic cluster as the outbreak virus was used. This is the first documented mucosal antibody response to NoV in children. This EIA provides a useful approach for diagnosing NoV outbreaks.     

Evaluation of the Architect Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Viral Capsid Antigen (VCA) IgG,VCA IgM,and EBV Nuclear Antigen 1 IgG Chemiluminescent Immunoassays for Detection of EBV Antibodies and Categorization of EBV Infection Status Using Immunofluorescence Assays as the Reference Method

Commercial immunoassays for detecting IgG and IgM antibodies against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), viral capsid antigens (VCA), and IgGs toward EBV nuclear antigen-1 (EBNA-1) are routinely used in combination to categorize EBV infection status. In this study, we evaluated the performances of the Architect EBV VCA IgG, VCA IgM, and EBNA-1 IgG chemiluminescent microparticle assays (CMIAs) in EBV serological analyses using indirect immunofluorescence assays and anticomplement immunofluorescence assays as the reference methods for VCA IgG, VCA IgM, and EBNA-1 IgG antibody detection, respectively. A total of 365 serum samples representing different EBV serological profiles were included in this study. The κ values (concordances between the results) obtained in the Architect CMIA and those in the reference assays were 0.905 (P < 0.0001) for VCA IgM, 0.889 (P < 0.0001) for VCA IgG, and 0.961 (P < 0.0001) for EBNA-1 IgG. The sensitivities and specificities were, respectively, 91.08% and 99.48% for VCA IgM, 99.23% and 86.27% for VCA IgG, and 96.77% and 99.16% for EBNA-1 IgG. The sensitivities and specificities of the Architect CMIA panel were, respectively, 99.15% and 98.6% for diagnosing a primary infection, 97.62% and 93.39% for diagnosing a past EBV infection, and 92.42% and 97.82% for diagnosing the absence of an EBV infection. In summary, we demonstrated that the Architect EBV antibody panel performs very well for EBV antibody detection and correctly categorizes clinically relevant EBV infection states.     

Evaluation of Clonorchis sinensis Recombinant 7-Kilodalton Antigen for Serodiagnosis of Clonorchiasis

The diagnostic applicability of the Clonorchis sinensis recombinant 7-kDa protein was evaluated. In enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and immunoblots, the protein showed high sensitivities (81.3 and 71.9%, respectively) and specificities (92.6 and 89.7%, respectively) for sera obtained from various helminthic infections. Some paragonimiasis sera showed cross-reactions. The antigen might be valuable in the serodiagnosis of human clonorchiasis.     

Diagnosis of Oropouche Virus Infection Using a Recombinant Nucleocapsid Protein-Based Enzyme Immunoassay

Oropouche (ORO) virus is an emerging infectious agent that has caused numerous outbreaks of an acute febrile (dengue-like) illness among humans in Brazil, Peru, and Panama. Diagnosis of ORO virus infection is based mainly on serology. Two different antigens, hamster serum antigen (HSA) and Vero cell lysate antigen (VCLA), are currently used in enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) in Brazil and Peru, respectively, to investigate the epidemiology of ORO virus infection. Both antigens involve use of infectious virus, and for this reason their use is restricted. Consequently, the frequency and distribution of ORO virus infection are largely unexplored in other countries of South America. This report describes the use of a bacterially expressed recombinant nucleocapsid (rN) protein of ORO virus in EIAs for the diagnosis of ORO virus infection. The data revealed that the purified rN protein is comparable to the authentic viral N protein in its antigenic characteristics and is highly sensitive and specific in EIAs. Among 183 serum samples tested, a high degree of concordance was found between rN protein-based EIA and HSA- and VCLA-based EIAs for the detection of both ORO virus-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG antibodies. The high sensitivity, specificity, and safety of the rN protein-based EIA make it a useful diagnostic technique that can be widely used to detect ORO virus infection in South America.     

Serodiagnosis of Equine Leptospirosis by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay Using Four Recombinant Protein Markers

Leptospirosis, caused by Leptospira spp., is one of the most common zoonotic diseases in the world. We tested four recombinant proteins of Leptospira interrogans, namely, rLipL21, rLoa22, rLipL32, and rLigACon4-8, to evaluate their potential for use as antigens for the diagnosis of equine leptospirosis. We employed equine sera (n = 130) that were microscopic agglutination test (MAT) negative and sera (n = 176) that were MAT positive for the 5 serovars that most commonly cause equine leptospirosis. The sensitivity and specificity of ELISA compared to MAT were 82.39% and 86.15%, respectively, for LigACon4-8, 77.84% and 92.31%, respectively, for Loa22, 77.84% and 86.15%, respectively, for LipL32, and 84.66% and 83.85%, respectively, for LipL21. When one of the two antigens was test positive, the sensitivity and specificity of ELISA were 93.75% and 78.46%, respectively, for rLigACon4-8 and LipL32, 93.18% and 76.15%, respectively, for rLigACon4-8 and LipL21, 89.77% and 80.77%, respectively, for rLigACon4-8 and Loa22, 91.48% and 78.46%, respectively, for LipL21 and Loa22, 93.75% and 76.92%, respectively, for LipL21 and LipL32, and 90.34% and 80.77%, respectively, for Loa22 and LipL32. In conclusion, we have developed an indirect ELISA utilizing rLigACon4-8, rLoa22, rLipL32, and rLipL21 as diagnostic antigens for equine leptospirosis. The use of four antigens in the ELISA was found to be sensitive and specific, the assay was easy to perform, and the results concurred with the results of the standard Leptospira MAT.     

Evaluation of a Recombinant Multiepitope Peptide for Serodiagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii Infection

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection with sensitive and specific methods is a key step in the prevention and treatment of toxoplasmosis. Among the available diagnostic tests, serology is commonly used. Although serological tests give satisfactory results, the production of reliable reagents remains laborious and expensive. There is therefore a real need to acquire specific and effective recombinant antigens for the serodiagnosis of T. gondii infection. In this study, a multiepitope peptide was designed and successfully expressed in Escherichia coli, and then IgG and IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were developed and evaluated. Our results showed that the new multiepitope antigen is one of the most promising recombinant antigens which could be used in routine screening of human toxoplasmosis.     

Use of Viral Lysate Antigen Combined with Recombinant Protein in Western Immunoblot Assay as Confirmatory Test for Serodiagnosis of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

A Western immunoblot assay for confirmatory serodiagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was developed utilizing viral lysate antigens combined with a recombinant nucleocapsid protein, GST-N (glutathione S-transferase-nucleocapsid) of the SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV). The viral lysate antigens were separated by electrophoresis and transblotted onto nitrocellulose membranes. The resultant membrane was subsequently added with the GST-N recombinant protein at a specific location. The positions of bands corresponding to some of the structural proteins immobilized on the membrane were then located and verified with mouse or rabbit antisera specific to the respective proteins. The Western immunoblot assay was able to detect antibodies to SARS-CoV in all 40 serum specimens from SARS patients and differentiate the SARS-positive samples from those of the healthy donor or non-SARS patient controls (150 samples) when set criteria were followed. In addition, when the immunoblot was used to test samples considered falsely positive by an in-house-developed SARS-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, band patterns different from those with samples from SARS patients were obtained.     

Serodiagnosis of Recently Acquired Toxoplasma gondii Infection Using an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay with a Combination of Recombinant Antigens

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using four recombinant antigens of Toxoplasma gondii (rP22, rP25, rP29, and rP35) was used in an attempt to differentiate pregnant women with toxoplasma serologic profiles (TSPs) indicative of recently acquired infections (acute profile) from those with TSPs indicative of infections acquired in the distant past (chronic profile). In general, immunoglobulin G antibodies in sera from women with the acute profile reacted more strongly with the recombinant antigens than did those in sera from women with the chronic profile. However, reactivities differed significantly between antigens that reacted with a single serum and between sera that reacted with a single antigen. Because of these variations, we employed a combination of the four antigens in an ELISA (Comb-ELISA) and evaluated its ability to distinguish pregnant women with the acute profile from those with the chronic profile. Eighteen of 20 (90%) sera from acute-profile women were positive in the Comb-ELISA, whereas 69 of 70 (98.6%) sera from the chronic-profile women were negative. Thus, the Comb-ELISA may be useful for diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women and for differentiation between recently acquired infections and infections acquired in the more distant past.     

Simple Objective Detection of Human Lyme Disease Infection Using Immuno-PCR and a Single Recombinant Hybrid Antigen

A serology-based tiered approach has, to date, provided the most effective means of laboratory confirmation of clinically suspected cases of Lyme disease, but it lacks sensitivity in the early stages of disease and is often dependent on subjectively scored immunoblots. We recently demonstrated the use of immuno-PCR (iPCR) for detecting Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies in patient serum samples that were positive for Lyme disease. To better understand the performance of the Lyme disease iPCR assay, the repeatability and variability of the background of the assay across samples from a healthy population (n = 36) were analyzed. Both of these parameters were found to have coefficients of variation of <3%. Using eight antigen-specific iPCR assays and positive call thresholds established for each assay, iPCR IgM and/or IgG diagnosis from Lyme disease patient serum samples (n = 12) demonstrated a strong correlation with that of 2-tier testing. Furthermore, a simplified iPCR approach using a single hybrid antigen and detecting only IgG antibodies confirmed the 2-tier diagnosis in the Lyme disease patient serum samples (n = 12). Validation of the hybrid antigen IgG iPCR assay using a blinded panel of Lyme disease and non-Lyme disease patient serum samples (n = 92) resulted in a sensitivity of 69% (95% confidence interval [CI], 50% to 84%), compared to that of the 2-tier analysis at 59% (95% CI, 41% to 76%), and a specificity of 98% (95% CI, 91% to 100%) compared to that of the 2-tier analysis at 97% (95% CI, 88% to 100%). A single-tier hybrid antigen iPCR assay has the potential to be an improved method for detecting host-generated antibodies against B. burgdorferi.     

人干燥综合征B抗原重组体的构建及融合表达

目的克隆人干燥综合征B抗原基因(human sjogren’s syndrome antigen B,SSB)并进行原核表达,为使用重组抗原用于自身抗体的临床检测奠定基础。方法根据GenBank中检索到的人SSB cDNA序列,在5′非编码区和3′非编码区设计特异性引物,提取人源HeLa细胞总RNA作为模板,逆转录RT-PCR扩增人干燥综合征B抗原cDNA。PCR产物纯化后连接至载体PET-30a,导入大肠埃希菌DH5α,构建重组质粒PET-30a-SSB。对重组质粒进行酶切鉴定,选择阳性克隆测序。重组质粒导入大肠埃希菌BL21,阳性克隆经鉴定后在IPTG诱导下表达。结果RT-PCR扩增产物为1245bp。重组质粒PET-30a-SSB经EcoR Ⅰ和HindⅢ双酶切证实含目的基因片段。序列分析提示与GenBank中检索到的一致。SDS-PAGE和Western印迹结果显示融合蛋白相对分子量为73ku,具有天然SSB抗原活性。结论成功克隆SSB基因并表达融合蛋白。     

An Antibody Targeting the Fusion Machinery Neutralizes Dual-Tropic Infection and Defines a Site of Vulnerability on Epstein-Barr Virus

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A Multiepitope Fusion Antigen Elicits Neutralizing Antibodies against Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and Homologous Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus In Vitro

Diarrhea is one of the most important bovine diseases. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) and bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) are the major causes of diarrhea in calves and cattle. ETEC expressing K99 (F5) fimbriae and heat-stable type Ia (STa) toxin are the leading bacteria causing calf diarrhea, and BVDV causes diarrhea and other clinical illnesses in cattle of all ages. It is reported that maternal immunization with K99 fimbrial antigens provides passive protection to calves against K99 fimbrial ETEC and that BVDV major structural protein E2 elicits antibodies neutralizing against BVDV viral infection. Vaccines inducing anti-K99 and anti-STa immunity would protect calves more effectively against ETEC diarrhea, and those also inducing anti-E2 neutralizing antibodies would protect calves and cattle against diarrhea caused by both ETEC and BVDV. In this study, we used the ETEC K99 major subunit FanC as a backbone, genetically embedded the STa toxoid STa_P12F and the most-antigenic B-cell epitope and T-cell epitope predicted from the BVDV E2 glycoprotein into FanC for the multivalent antigen FanC-STa-E2, and examined immunogenicity of this multivalent antigen to assess vaccine potential against bovine diarrhea. Mice intraperitoneally (i.p.) immunized with this multivalent antigen developed anti-K99, anti-STa, and anti-BVDV antibodies. Moreover, elicited antibodies showed neutralization activities, as they inhibited adherence of K99 fimbrial E. coli, neutralized STa toxin, and prevented homologous BVDV viral infection in vitro. Results from this study suggest that this multiepitope fusion antigen can potentially be developed as a vaccine for broad protection against bovine diarrhea and that the multiepitope fusion strategy may be generally applied for multivalent vaccine development against heterogeneous pathogens.     

Immunization with Components of the Viral Fusion Apparatus Elicits Antibodies That Neutralize Epstein-Barr Virus in B Cells and Epithelial Cells

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固相酶联免疫测定法检测NS1抗原在登革病毒感染早期诊断中的应用

目的探讨固相酶联免疫测定（ELISA）法检测NS1抗原在登革病毒感染早期诊断中的应用价值。方法选取登革病毒感染早期患者血清171份,非登革病毒感染发热患者血清11份,正常人血清10份,采用ELISA法检测全部192份血清的登革病毒NS1抗原和IgM抗体;采用逆转录-聚合酶链反应-限制性内切酶酶切片段长度多态性分析（RT-PCR-RFLP）技术对发病5 d内的125份血清进行扩增和鉴定分型;并采用C6/36细胞微量培养法对发病第1、2天的41份血清进行登革病毒分离培养。结果登革病毒感染患者发病2 d内、3～5 d以及6～10 d血清NS1抗原的检出率分别是92.7%（38/41）、83.3%（70/84）、10.9%（5/46）;IgM抗体的检出率分别是2.4%（1/41）、51.2%（43/84）、97.8%（45/46）;非登革病毒感染的发热患者及正常人血清中,有1例疟疾患者血清登革病毒IgM抗体呈阳性,NS1抗原无一例阳性。RT-PCR在登革病毒感染患者发病第1、2天和3～5天的检出率分别是85.4%（35/41）、83.3%（70/84）;登革病毒感染患者发病第1、2天血清的病毒分离培养阳性率分别是80.0%（16/20）、38.1%（8/21）,总分离率58.5%（24/41）;RT-PCR-RFLP分型鉴定技术及间接免疫荧光法（IFA）均证实2006年广州流行株为登革Ⅰ型病毒。结论ELISA法检测登革病毒NS1抗原操作技术成熟,且具有敏感性高、特异性好的特点,对登革病毒感染的早期诊断和疫情的早期控制具有重要意义,适合于基层医疗机构常规应用。     

Simple and Rapid Method for Production of Whole-Virus Antigen for Serodiagnosis of Caprine Arthritis-Encephalitis Virus by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was used to produce whole-virus antigen derived from tissue culture cells infected with a Canadian strain of caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus. PEG antigen batches were obtained after precipitation and concentration of infected tissue culture material with PEG 8000 and final treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate. The optimum time of harvest of tissue culture extracted material to produce the maximum amount of viral proteins was determined in roller bottles, after cocultivation of infected and noninfected fetal lamb corneal cells. Samples from day 9 to day 25 postculture were collected and processed. By Western blotting, the optimum time of harvest was found to be day 25 following the coculture. Two large batches of PEG antigen were prepared at the optimum time of harvest. Both batches gave similar results when tested by Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using reference control sera from infected and noninfected goats. For further testing in ELISA, cutoff values and ratios were determined for PEG batch 1, using 200 known serum samples from goats free of the disease. The PEG antigen batch was compared with an in-house ELISA antigen in a kinetic mode, using 498 serum samples from field goats. The in-house ELISA antigen was produced following two rounds of ultracentrifugation and treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate (R. A. Heckert, W. B. McNab, S. M. Richardson, and M. R. Briscoe, Can. J. Vet. Res. 56:237–241, 1992). The PEG antigen batch was found suitable for ELISA, with a relative specificity of 100% and a relative sensitivity of 99.4% compared to the in-house ELISA antigen. This method of antigen production for ELISA was found to be rapid, inexpensive, and reliable for the diagnosis of caprine-arthritis encephalitis, without requiring the use of sophisticated laboratory equipment.