Performance evaluation of the Access HBsAg and Access HBsAg confirmatory assays on the DxI 9000 Access Immunoassay Analyzer.

Introduction: This study evaluated the clinical and analytical performances of the Access HBsAg and the Access HBsAg Confirmatory assays on the DxI 9000 Access Immunoassay Analyzer (Beckman Coulter, Inc.). Materials and methods: Diagnostic specificity and sensitivity of the Access HBsAg and Access HBsAg Confirmatory assays were evaluated by comparing the Access assays to the final HBsAg sample status determined using the Architect, PRISM, or Elecsys HBsAg assays, along with Architect or PRISM HBsAg Confirmatory assays. Imprecision, sensitivity on seroconversion panels, analytical sensitivity on WHO, and recognition of HBV variants were also evaluated. Results: A total of 7534 samples were included in the analysis (6047 blood donors, 1032 hospitalized patients, 455 positive patients' samples). Access HBsAg assay sensitivity and specificity were at 100.00% (99.19-100.0) and 99.92% (99.82-99.97), respectively. Sensitivity of Access HBsAg Confirmatory assay was 100.00% (99.21-100.0) on the 464 HBsAg positive samples. The use of a high positive algorithm for the Access HBsAg assay, wherein samples with S/CO ≥ 100.00 were considered positive without requiring repeat or confirmatory testing, was successfully evaluated with all 450 specimens with S/CO greater than 100.00 (sensitivity 100.00%; 99.19-100.0). Access HBsAg assay demonstrated good analytical performance, equivalent recognition of seroconversion panels compared to Architect assay, and an analytical sensitivity between 0.022 and 0.025 IU/mL. All HBV genotypes, subtypes and mutants were well detected without analytical sensitivity loss. Conclusion: Access HBsAg and Access HBsAg Confirmatory assays demonstrated robust performances. They provide low samples volume requirements and a simplified process, no systematic retesting for high positive samples.

Anti-Mesothelin Nanobodies for Both Conventional and Nanoparticle-Based Biomedical Applications.

Mesothelin, a cancer biomarker overexpressed in tumors of epithelial origin, is a target for nanotechnology-based diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic applications. The currently available anti-mesothelin antibodies present limitations, including low penetration due to large size and/or lack of in vivo stability. Single domain antibodies (sdAbs) or nanobodies (Nbs) provide powerful solutions to these specific problems. We generated a phage-display library of Nbs that were amplified from B cells of a llama that was immunized with human recombinant mesothelin. Two nanobodies (Nb A1 and Nb C6) were selected on the basis of affinity (K(D) = 15 and 30 nM, respectively). Nb A1 was further modified by adding either a cysteine to permit maleimide-based bioconjugations or a sequence for the site-specific metabolic addition of a biotin in vivo. Both systems of conjugation (thiol-maleimide and streptavidin/biotin) were used to characterize and validate Nb A1 and to functionalize nanoparticles. We showed that anti-mesothelin Nb A1 could detect native and denatured mesothelin in various diagnostic applications, including flow cytometry, western blotting, immunofluorescence, and optical imaging. In conclusion, anti-mesothelin Nbs are novel, cost-effective, small, and single domain reagents with high affinity and specificity for the tumor-associated antigen mesothelin, which can be simply bioengineered for attachment to nanoparticles or modified surfaces using multiple bioconjugation strategies. These anti-mesothelin Nbs can be useful in both conventional and nanotechnology-based diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic biomedical applications.

A FcγRIII-engaging bispecific antibody expands the range of HER2-expressing breast tumors eligible to antibody therapy.

Trastuzumab is established as treatment of HER2high metastatic breast cancers but many limitations impair its efficacy. Here, we report the design of a Fab-like bispecific antibody (HER2bsFab) that displays a moderate affinity for HER2 and a unique, specific and high affinity for FcγRIII. In vitro characterization showed that ADCC was the major mechanism of action of HER2bsFab as no significant HER2-driven effect was observed. HER2bsFab mediated ADCC at picomolar concentration against HER2high, HER2low as well as trastuzumab-refractive cell lines. In vivo HER2bsFab potently inhibited HER2high tumor growth by recruitment of mouse FcγRIII and IV-positive resident effector cells and more importantly, exhibited a net superiority over trastuzumab at inhibiting HER2low tumor growth. Moreover, FcγRIIIA-engagement by HER2bsFab was independent of V/F158 polymorphism and induced a stronger NK cells activation in response to target cell recognition. Thus, taking advantage of its epitope specificity and affinity for HER2 and FcγRIIIA, HER2bsFab exhibits potent anti-tumor activity against HER2low tumors while evading most of trastuzumab Fc-linked limitations thereby potentially enlarging the number of patients eligible for breast cancer immunotherapy.

Multiphoton imaging of tumor biomarkers with conjugates of single-domain antibodies and quantum dots.

An ideal multiphoton fluorescent nanoprobe should combine a nanocrystal with the largest possible two-photon absorption cross section (TPACS) and the smallest highly specific recognition molecules bound in an oriented manner. CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) conjugated to 13-kDa single-domain antibodies (sdAbs) derived from camelid IgG or streptavidin have been used as efficient two-photon excitation (TPE) probes for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) imaging on normal human appendix and colon carcinoma tissue. The TPACS for some conjugates was higher than 49,000 GM (Goeppert-Mayer units), considerably exceeding that of organic dyes being close to the theoretical value of 50,000 GM calculated for CdSe QDs. The ratio of sdAb-QD emission to the autofluorescence for 800 nm TPE was 40 times higher than that for 457.9 nm one-photon excitation. TPE ensures a clear discrimination of CEA-overexpressing tumor areas from normal tissue. Oriented sdAb-QD conjugates are bright specific labels for detecting low concentrations of antigens using multiphoton microscopy. FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR: This study demonstrates carcinoembryonic antigen imaging on normal human appendix and colon carcinoma tissue utilizing CdSe/ZnS quantum dots conjugated to streptavidin or to 13-kDa single-domain antibodies as efficient two-photon excitation probes.