Real-world evaluation of a novel technology for quantitative simultaneous antibody detection against multiple SARS-CoV-2 antigens in a cohort of patients presenting with COVID-19 syndrome.

An evaluation of a rapid portable gold-nanotechnology measuring SARS-CoV-2 IgM, IgA and IgG antibody concentrations against spike 1 (S1), spike 2 (S) and nucleocapsid (N) was conducted using serum samples from 74 patients tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA on admission to hospital, and 47 historical control patients from March 2019. 59 patients were RNA(+) and 15 were RNA(-). A serum (±) classification was derived for all three antigens and a quantitative serological profile was obtained. Serum(+) was identified in 30% (95% CI 11-48) of initially RNA(-) patients, in 36% (95% CI 17-54) of RNA(+) patients before 10 days, 77% (95% CI 67-87) between 10 and 20 days and 95% (95% CI 86-100) after 21 days. The patient-level diagnostic accuracy relative to RNA(±) after 10 days displayed 88% sensitivity (95% CI 75-95) and 75% specificity (95% CI 22-99), although specificity compared with historical controls was 100% (95%CI 91-100). This study provides robust support for further evaluation and validation of this novel technology in a clinical setting and highlights challenges inherent in assessment of serological tests for an emerging disease such as COVID-19.

Accuracy and precision analysis for a biophotonic assay of C-reactive protein.

A multiplexed biophotonic assay platform has been developed using the localised particle plasmon in gold nanoparticles assembled in an array and functionalised for two assays: total IgG and C-reactive protein (CRP). A protein A/G (PAG) assay, calibrated with a NIST reference material, shows a maximum surface coverage of θmax = 7.13 ± 0.19 mRIU, equivalent to 1.5 ng mm-2 of F(ab)-presenting antibody. The CRP capture antibody has an equivalent surface binding density of θmax = 2.95 ± 0.41 mRIU indicating a 41% capture antibody availability. Free PAG binding to the functionalised anti-CRP surface shows that only 47 ± 3% of CRP capture antibodies are correctly presenting Fab regions for antigen capture. The accuracy and precision of the CRP sensor assay was assessed with 54 blood samples containing spiked CRP in the range 2-160 mg L-1. The mean accuracy was 0.42 mg L-1 with Confidence Interval (CI) at 95% from -14.7 to 13.8 mg L-1 and the precision had a Coefficient of Variation (CV) of 10.6% with 95% CI 0.9%-20.2%. These biophotonic platform performance metrics indicate a CRP assay with 2-160 mg L-1 dynamic range, performed in 8 minutes from 5 µL of whole blood without sample preparation.

A rapid and quantitative technique for assessing IgG monomeric purity, calibrated with the NISTmAb reference material.

The fraction of intact monomer in a sample (moles/moles), the monomeric purity, is measured as a quality control in therapeutic monoclonal antibodies but is often unknown in research samples and remains a major source of variation in quantitative antibody-based techniques such as immunoassay development. Here, we describe a novel multiplex technique for estimating the monomeric purity and antigen affinity of research grade antibody samples. Light scattering was used to simultaneously observe the mass of antibody binding to biosensor surfaces functionalised with antigen (revealing Fab binding kinetics) or protein A/G (PAG). Initial estimates of monomeric purity in 7 antibody samples including a therapeutic infliximab biosimilar were estimated by observing a mass deficit on the PAG surface compared to the NISTmAb standard of high monomeric purity. Monomeric purity estimates were improved in a second step by observing the mass of antigen binding to the mass of antibody on the PAG surface. The NISTmAb and infliximab biosimilar displayed tightly controlled stoichiometries for antigen binding of 1.31 ± 0.57 and 1.71 ± 0.16 (95% confidence interval)-within the theoretical limit of 1-2 antigens per antibody depending on avidity. The other antibodies in the panel displayed antigen binding stoichiometries in the range 0.06-1.15, attributed to lower monomeric purity. The monomeric purity estimates were verified by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI), the gold standard technique for structural characterization of antibodies. ESI data indicated that the NISTmAb and infliximab biosimilar samples had monomeric purity values of 93.5% and 94.7%, respectively, whilst the research grade samples were significantly lower (54-89%). Our results demonstrate rapid quality control testing for monomeric purity of antibody samples (< 15 min) which could improve the reproducibility of antibody-based experiments.

Label-free Fab and Fc affinity/avidity profiling of the antibody complex half-life for polyclonal and monoclonal efficacy screening.

A unified approach to affinity screening for Fab and Fc interactions of an antibody for its antigen and FcγR receptor has been developed. An antigen array is used for the Fab affinity and cross-reactivity screening and protein A/G proxy is the FcγR receptor. The affinities are derived using a simple 1:1 binding model with a consistent error analysis. The association and dissociation kinetics are measured over optimised times for accurate determination. The Fab/Fc affinities are derived for ten antibodies: mAb-actin (mouse), pAb-BSA (sheep), pAb-collagen V (rabbit), pAb-CRP (goat), mAb-F1 (mouse), mAbs (mouse) 7.3, 12.3, 29.3, 36.3 and 46.3 raised against LcrV in Yersinia pestis. The rate of the dissociation of antigen-antibody complexes relates directly to their immunological function as does the Fc-FcγR complex and a new half-life plot has been defined with a Fab/Fc half-life range of 17-470 min. The upper half-life value points to surface avidity. Two antibodies that are protective as an immunotherapy define a Fab half-life >250 min and an Fc half-life >50 min as characteristics of ideal interactions which can form the basis of an antibody screen for immunotherapy.

Kinetic epitope mapping of monoclonal antibodies raised against the Yersinia pestis virulence factor LcrV.

Five monoclonal antibodies, mAb7.3, mAb29.3, mAb46.3, mAb12.3 and mAb36.3, raised to the LcrV virulence factor from Yersinia pestis were characterised for their Fab affinity against the purified protein and their Fc affinity to Protein A/G as a proxy for the FcγR receptor. Kinetic measurements were performed label-free in a localised particle plasmon array reader. The Fc-ProteinA/G complex first-order half-life was determined for each antibody and fell in the range of 0.8-3.8h. The Fab first-order half-lives had ranged from 3.4 to 9.2h although two antibodies, mAb12.3 and mAb36.3, showed low affinity interactions. Competitive binding studies of mixtures of the Fab-active antibodies were performed to measure the relative binding efficiency of one antibody in the presence of the other. A geometric relative positioning of the epitopes of mAb7.3, mAb29.3 and mAb46.3 was determined based on the footprint locus of the antibody and the percentage of competitive binding. The two known protective antibodies mAb7.3 and mAb29.3 showed greater interference, indicating epitopes close to one another compared to the non-protective mAb46.3 antibody. The Fab-Fc complex half-life screen and epitope mapping are potentially useful tools in the screening of therapeutic antibodies or vaccine candidates.

Glycosylation characterization of human and porcine fibrinogen proteins by lectin-binding biophotonic microarray imaging.

Lectin binding has been studied using the particle plasmon light-scattering properties of gold nanoparticles printed into an array format. Performance of the kinetic assay is evaluated from a detailed analysis of the binding of concanavalin A (ConA) and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) to their target monosaccharides indicating affinity constants in the order of KD ∼10 nM for the lectin-monosaccharide interaction. The detection limits for the lectins following a 200 s injection time were determined as 10 ng/mL or 0.23 nM and 100 ng/mL or 0.93 nM, respectively. Subsequently, a nine-lectin screen was performed on the porcine and human fibrinogen glycoproteins. The observed spectra of lectin-protein specific binding rates result in characteristic patterns that evidently correlate with the structure of the glycans and allow one to distinguish between glycosylation of the porcine and human fibrinogens. The array technology has the potential to perform a multilectin screen of large numbers of proteins providing information on protein glycosylation and their microheterogeneity.

Measurement of the localised plasmon penetration depth for gold nanoparticles using a non-invasive bio-stacking method.

We have used the formation of a bio-probe stack with up to 24 steps on gold nanoparticle and continuous gold surfaces to characterize the penetration depth of the plasmon field in a non-invasive manner by only involving biomolecules from standard bio-assays. An alternating anti-goat rabbit IgG and anti-rabbit IgG bio-probe stack is polymerized on protein A/G functionalized gold surfaces. The change in plasmon excitation angle or light scattering decreases exponentially with each stacking step although the bio-integrity of the antibody epitope is maintained. The exponential decay in the derived kinetic parameters is attributed to the change in the penetration depth and the step size is calibrated using a commercial continuous gold surface plasmon resonance surface to be 17.5 ± 0.8 nm, consistent with the expected dimension of the antibody. The penetration depth of the gold spherical nanoparticles of diameter 90 ± 13 nm is determined to be 93 ± 10 nm.

Crystal structure of a soluble form of human CD73 with ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity.

CD73 is a dimeric ecto-5'-nucleotidase that is expressed on the exterior side of the plasma membrane. CD73 has important regulatory functions in the extracellular metabolism of certain nucleoside monophosphates, in particular adenosine monophosphate, and has been linked to a number of pathological conditions such as cancer and myocardial ischaemia. Here, we present the crystal structure of a soluble form of human soluble CD73 (sCD73) at 2.2 Å resolution, a truncated form of CD73 that retains ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity. With this structure we obtained insight into the dimerisation of CD73, active site architecture, and a sense of secondary modifications of the protein. The crystal structure reveals a conserved loop that is directly involved in the dimer-dimer interaction showing that the two subunits of the dimer are not linked by disulfide bridges. Using biophotonic microarray imaging we were able to confirm glycosylation of the enzyme and show that the enzyme is decorated with a variety of oligosaccharide structures. The crystal structure of sCD73 will aid the design of inhibitors or activator molecules for the treatment of several diseases and prove useful in explaining the possible roles of single nucleotide polymorphisms in physiology and disease.

Differential immuno-kinetic assays of allergen-specific binding for peanut allergy serum analysis.

A label-free nanoparticle array platform has been used to detect total peanut allergen-specific binding from whole serum of patients suffering from peanut allergy. The serum from 10 patients was screened against a four-allergen panel of cat and dog dander, dust mite and peanut allergen protein Ara h1. The IgE and IgG contributions to the total specific-binding protein load to Ara h1 were identified using two secondary IgG- and IgE-specific antibodies and were found to contribute less than 50 % of the total specific protein load. The total mass of IgE, IgE and the unresolved specific-binding protein ΔsBP for Ara h1 provides a new serum profile for high-RAST-grade patients 5 and 6 with the IgG/IgE ratio of 4 ± 2 and ΔsBP/IgE ratio of 17 ± 11, neither of which is protective for the small patient cohort.

Whole blood screening of antibodies using label-free nanoparticle biophotonic array platform.

A gold nanoparticle, localised plasmon array biosensor using light scattering has been employed in the detection of allergen-specific antibodies in whole blood and sera. The array sensor was functionalized with four different allergens, cat dander (Fel d1), dust mite (Der p1), peanut allergen (Ara h1) and dog dander (Can f1) and immuno-kinetic assay was performed to detect their respective anti-allergen IgG antibodies. Specific positive responses to antibodies at a concentration of 25 nM were observed for Fel d1, Der p1, and Ara h1 allergens, while the Can f1 channel served as a reference control. The sensitivity was further enhanced using a secondary anti-IgG detection antibodies to give a limit of detection of 2 nM. The results indicate the potential for nanoparticle scattering multiplexed arrays to screen unprepared blood samples at point-of-care for assays of complex samples such as the whole blood.

Human serum albumin interference on plasmon-based immunokinetic assay for antibody screening in model blood sera.

The effect of human serum albumin (HSA) on an immunokinetic assay for an antibody to bovine serum albumin has been determined in model serum solutions with HSA concentrations in the range 0 to 450 microM (0-30 mgml(-1)). The assay is performed on two plasmon-based detection platforms: a continuous gold surface and a nanoparticle-based array reader. The assay has a minimum detection concentration of 760+/-160 pM (120+/-25 ngml(-1)) in phosphate-buffered saline, falling to 2.5+/-0.7 nM (380+/-100 ngml(-1)) in physiological HSA concentration. The concentration of HSA correlates with the refractive index of the solution, and this may be used to calibrate assay response. The addition of the charged chaotrope SCN(-) in 150 mM concentration improves the reproducibility and consistency of the assay, with a minimum detection concentration of 2.9+/-0.5 nM (440+/-80 ngml(-1)). The effect of high concentrations of HSA on the immunokinetic assay can be corrected with a measurement of bulk refractive index in a reference channel.

Quantitative label-free screening for antibodies using scattering biophotonic microarray imaging.

A biophotonic array based on gold nanoparticles functionalized with antigen proteins has been used to determine the concentrations of the respective antibodies in solution. Four proteins-fibrinogen, bovine serum albumin, transferrin, and C-reactive protein-were used to construct a test array with the assay repeated a number of times. The antibody-antigen association and dissociation rate constants were determined for the antibody assays from a series of calibration experiments. The label-free determination of the unknown antibody concentrations was performed using two related kinetic analyses. From these results, the current array assay sensitivity is 250 ng ml(-1) with an accuracy of 15% using an 8-min kinetic measurement and a 16-spot averaged assay.

Whole serum BSA antibody screening using a label-free biophotonic nanoparticle array.

Bovine serum albumin antibodies (aBSA) have been screened from whole leporine anti serum on a biophotonic array. The array was initially printed with seed gold nanoparticles into a 96-spot configuration, and 130-nm gold nanoparticles were synthesised in situ on the surface of each spot. The gold nanoparticle surface was then functionalized with the proteins bovine serum albumin (BSA), fibrinogen, and immunoglobulin G (IgG) and with the amino acid glycine. The concentration of aBSA in the whole serum was determined using a kinetic analysis of the time-dependent light scattering from the nanoparticles. The aBSA-BSA kinetic parameters derived from the array are k(a)=(1.3 +/- 0.3) x 10(5) M(-1) s(-1), k(d)=(4 +/- 2) x 10(-4) s(-1), and K(D)=3 nM, which compare favorably with those from continuous gold surfaces. The ultimate sensitivity of the array reader to the bulk refractive index (RI) is 1 x 10(-4) refractive index units (RIU), corresponding to 1 microg ml(-1) for aBSA. The nanoparticles appear to be more sensitive than the continuous gold surface to the aBSA binding event from whole serum, and this is interpreted in terms of the difference in RI contrast in the plasmon fields.

Label-free antibody-antigen binding detection by optical sensor array based on surface-synthesized gold nanoparticles.

Gold nanoparticles grown in situ from printed seed particles on a glass substrate have been fabricated into a biosensor array. The light-scattering properties of the resulting surfaces show sensitivity to changes in the local refractive index. Each array spot is functionalized with fibrinogen or bovine serum albumin and scattered radiation is used to monitor the refractive index change on label-free binding of the antibodies to their antigens from whole blood antiserum. Data were collected real-time and the association rate constants for the specific antibody-antigen binding were derived from a kinetic analysis. The minimum antibody concentration detection sensitivity is of 100 nM.

Rate coefficients for reaction and for rotational energy transfer in collisions between CN in selected rotational levels (X 2Sigma+, v=2, N=0, 1, 6, 10, 15, and 20) and C2H2.

Rate coefficients (ktot,Ni) are reported (a) for total removal (reactive+inelastic) of CN(X2Sigma+,v=2,Ni) radicals from selected rotational levels (Ni=0, 1, 6, 10, 15, and 20) and (b) for state-to-state rotational energy transfer (ki-->f) between levels Ni and other rotational levels Nf in collisions with C2H2. CN radicals were generated by pulsed laser photolysis of NCNO at 573 nm. A fraction of the radicals was then promoted to a selected rotational level in v=2 using a tunable infrared "pump" laser operating at approximately 2.45 microm, and the subsequent fate of this subset of radicals was monitored using pulsed laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF). Values of ktot,Ni were determined by observing the decay of the PLIF signals as the delay between pump and probe laser pulses was systematically varied. In a second series of experiments, double resonance spectra were recorded at a short delay between the pump and probe laser pulses. Analysis of these spectra yielded state-to-state rate coefficients for rotational energy transfer, ki-->f. The difference between the sum of these rate coefficients, Sigmafki-->f, and the value of ktot,Ni for the same level Ni is attributed to the occurrence of chemical reaction, yielding values of the rotationally selected rate coefficients (kreac,Ni) for reaction of CN from specified rotational levels. These rate coefficients decrease from (7.9+/-2.2)x10(-10) cm3molecule-1 s-1 for Ni=0 to (0.8+/-1.3)x10(-10) cm3 molecule-1 s-1 for Ni=20. The results are briefly discussed in the context of microcanonical transition state theory and the statistical adiabatic channel model.

Energy transfer in thermal and hyperthermal collisions between CN(X2Sigma+, v = 2) in selected rotational levels (Ni = 0, 1, 6, 10, 15 and 20) and N2.

We report rate coefficients (k(tot,N(i))) for total removal of CN(X(2)Sigma(+), v = 2, N(i)) radicals from selected rotational levels (N(i) = 0, 1, 6, 10, 15 and 20) and for state-to-state rotational energy transfer (k(i-->f)) between levels N(i) and other rotational levels N(f) in single collisions with N(2). CN radicals have been generated using two sources: (a) the pulsed laser photolysis of ICN at 266 nm, which generates translationally 'hot' CN radicals; and (b) the pulsed laser photolysis of NCNO at 570 nm, which generates CN radicals with translational energies close to the average value at 298 K. Comparison of the values of k(tot,N(i)) obtained using these two sources of CN demonstrates: firstly, that the same results are obtained as long as time is allowed for the translationally hot CN radicals generated from ICN to be thermalised before radicals are promoted to a specific rotational level in v = 2 using a tuneable infrared 'pump' laser operating at ca. 2.45 micro m; and secondly, that the rate coefficients decrease, but the averaged cross-sections remain approximately constant, as the excess translational energy in CN radicals is moderated by collisions. With NCNO as the source of CN radicals, the observed values of k(tot,N(i)) do not depend on the delay between the pulses from the photolysis and pump lasers. Finally, we demonstrate that, for the non-reactive collision partner N(2) and with allowances made for the rate coefficients that are too small to measure directly, the sum of the state-to-state rate coefficients, Sigma(f)k(i-->f), for rotational energy transfer from a selected initial level N(i) agrees quite well with the value of k(tot,N(i)) for total transfer from the same initial level. The values of k(tot,N(i)) and of the state-to-state rate coefficients are compared with similar, earlier, results in which helium and argon were the collision partners. The relevance of these results to the study of collisions of CN with reactive collision partners is briefly discussed.

Intermolecular interaction in an open-shell pi-bound cationic complex: IR spectrum and coupled cluster calculations for C2H2+-Ar.

The intermolecular potential energy surface (PES) of Ar interacting with the acetylene cation in its (2)Pi(u) ground electronic state is characterized by infrared photodissociation (IRPD) spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations. In agreement with the theoretical predictions, the rovibrational analysis of the IRPD spectrum of C(2)H(2) (+)-Ar recorded in the vicinity of the antisymmetric CH stretching fundamental (nu(3)) is consistent with a vibrationally averaged T-shaped structure and a ground-state center-of-mass separation of R(c.m.) = 2.86 +/- 0.09 A. The nu(3) band experiences a blueshift of 16.7 cm(-1) upon complexation, indicating that vibrational excitation slightly reduces the interaction strength. The two-dimensional intermolecular PES of C(2)H(2) (+)-Ar, obtained from coupled cluster calculations with a large basis set, features strong angular-radial coupling and supports in addition to a global pi-bound minimum also two shallow side wells with linear H-bound geometries. Bound state rovibrational energy level calculations are carried out for rotational angular momentum J = 0-10 (both parities) employing a discrete variable representation-distributed Gaussian basis method. Effective spectroscopic constants are determined for the vibrational ground state by fitting the calculated rotational energies to the standard Watson A-type Hamiltonian for a slightly asymmetric prolate top.