Comparison of dot-ELISA and standard ELISA for detection of Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane complex–specific antibodies

Dot-ELISA using the outer membrane complex antigens of Neisseria meningitidis as a target was standardized for rapid detection of meningococcal-specific antibodies in human serum. We investigated the level of meningococcal-specific IgG, IgA, and IgM in serum using dot-ELISA with outer membrane antig...

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Main Authors: Elza F.T. Belo, Calil K. Farhat, Elizabeth N. De Gaspari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2010-01-01
Series:Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1413867010700088
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author Elza F.T. Belo
Calil K. Farhat
Elizabeth N. De Gaspari
author_facet Elza F.T. Belo
Calil K. Farhat
Elizabeth N. De Gaspari
author_sort Elza F.T. Belo
collection DOAJ
description Dot-ELISA using the outer membrane complex antigens of Neisseria meningitidis as a target was standardized for rapid detection of meningococcal-specific antibodies in human serum. We investigated the level of meningococcal-specific IgG, IgA, and IgM in serum using dot-ELISA with outer membrane antigens prepared from Neisseria meningitidis serotype B:4.19:P1.15,3,7,9 (a strain isolated from a Brazilian epidemic). The dot-ELISA is based on the same principles as the standard ELISA and is useful for detection of anti-N. meningitidis B antibodies in serum of patients with meningococcal infections. For the assay, outer membrane complexes (OMCs) were absorbed by nitrocellulose membrane and blocked with a 5% skim milk solution. Serum samples were drawn upon hospital admission and during convalescence from patients with meningococcal septicemia, and single samples were drawn from uninfected controls. We retrospectively examined a total of 57 serum samples: 35 from patients infected with N. meningitidis B, 12 from patients infected with Haemophilus influenzae b, and 10 from health individuals. When performed at room temperature, dot-ELISA took approximately four hours to perform, and the optimum antigen concentration was 0.42 μg per dot. The specificity of IgG, IgM, and IgA demonstrates that dot-ELISA using OMCs from N. meningitidis B as a target is suitable for serologic verification of clinically suspected meningococcal disease in patients and for titer determination of antibodies produced during different phases of natural infection. Furthermore, the sensitivity of dot-ELISA was comparable to that of standard ELISA. Overall, dot-ELISA is simple to perform, rapid, and low cost. Further validation of the test as a screening tool is required. Keywords: Neisseria meningitidis, dot-ELISA, ELISA, antibodies, outer membrane complex
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spelling doaj.art-64b673c4c1c841af9d57d4a0e508f2852022-12-22T00:52:56ZengElsevierBrazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases1413-86702010-01-011413540Comparison of dot-ELISA and standard ELISA for detection of Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane complex–specific antibodiesElza F.T. Belo0Calil K. Farhat1Elizabeth N. De Gaspari2Immunology Section, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, SP, BrazilImmunology Section, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, SP, BrazilCorrespondence: Instituto Adolfo Lutz.355,11 andar CEP: 01246-902, São Paulo, Brasil, Tel.: (55) (11) 3068-28-98, Fax: (55) (11) 3085-35-05.; Immunology Section, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, SP, BrazilDot-ELISA using the outer membrane complex antigens of Neisseria meningitidis as a target was standardized for rapid detection of meningococcal-specific antibodies in human serum. We investigated the level of meningococcal-specific IgG, IgA, and IgM in serum using dot-ELISA with outer membrane antigens prepared from Neisseria meningitidis serotype B:4.19:P1.15,3,7,9 (a strain isolated from a Brazilian epidemic). The dot-ELISA is based on the same principles as the standard ELISA and is useful for detection of anti-N. meningitidis B antibodies in serum of patients with meningococcal infections. For the assay, outer membrane complexes (OMCs) were absorbed by nitrocellulose membrane and blocked with a 5% skim milk solution. Serum samples were drawn upon hospital admission and during convalescence from patients with meningococcal septicemia, and single samples were drawn from uninfected controls. We retrospectively examined a total of 57 serum samples: 35 from patients infected with N. meningitidis B, 12 from patients infected with Haemophilus influenzae b, and 10 from health individuals. When performed at room temperature, dot-ELISA took approximately four hours to perform, and the optimum antigen concentration was 0.42 μg per dot. The specificity of IgG, IgM, and IgA demonstrates that dot-ELISA using OMCs from N. meningitidis B as a target is suitable for serologic verification of clinically suspected meningococcal disease in patients and for titer determination of antibodies produced during different phases of natural infection. Furthermore, the sensitivity of dot-ELISA was comparable to that of standard ELISA. Overall, dot-ELISA is simple to perform, rapid, and low cost. Further validation of the test as a screening tool is required. Keywords: Neisseria meningitidis, dot-ELISA, ELISA, antibodies, outer membrane complexhttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1413867010700088
spellingShingle Elza F.T. Belo
Calil K. Farhat
Elizabeth N. De Gaspari
Comparison of dot-ELISA and standard ELISA for detection of Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane complex–specific antibodies
Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases
title Comparison of dot-ELISA and standard ELISA for detection of Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane complex–specific antibodies
title_full Comparison of dot-ELISA and standard ELISA for detection of Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane complex–specific antibodies
title_fullStr Comparison of dot-ELISA and standard ELISA for detection of Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane complex–specific antibodies
title_full_unstemmed Comparison of dot-ELISA and standard ELISA for detection of Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane complex–specific antibodies
title_short Comparison of dot-ELISA and standard ELISA for detection of Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane complex–specific antibodies
title_sort comparison of dot elisa and standard elisa for detection of neisseria meningitidis outer membrane complex specific antibodies
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1413867010700088
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