Development of Novel Biosensors for Non‐Invasive and Rapid Diagnosis of Celiac Disease

Abstract

There is a pressing need for rapid, non‐invasive, and accurate detection methods to diagnose individuals with the autoimmune disorder celiac disease (CD). It is estimated to affect up to two million Americans, and is caused by an autoimmune response to consuming gluten, resulting in damage to the lining of the gastrointestinal tract that leads to abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and many other complications. Accurate diagnosis of CD remains challenging; the current diagnostic procedure involves multi‐day laboratory protocols, followed by an invasive duodenal biopsy. Here, we demonstrate work towards a blood sample‐based diagnostic tool to allow for early identification of CD in patients. Our method utilizes known autoimmune interactions that occur in the body of an individual with CD; specifically, when they consume gluten, a part of the gluten incorrectly binds to an enzyme in the bloodstream, and the resultant structure that forms between the gluten and the enzyme is targeted by their immune system. Researchers have identified how parts of this novel structure specifically interacts with the autoantibodies involved in CD. These peptide epitopes closely recapitulate the disease state. We have thus created a biosensor that relies on using these peptide epitopes as the capture probe to detect levels of disease‐specific antibodies. This strategy was incorporated into an electrochemical DNA (E‐DNA) biosensor; a common type of biosensor that utilizes small changes in electrical conductivity to measure whether a target molecule is bound or unbound. This sensor design can, in principle, use unprocessed finger‐lancet blood samples to provide a rapid digital readout, allowing for efficient and sensitive detection of CD in patients.Support or Funding InformationThis work is supported by internal grant funding from the Metropolitan State University of Denver.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.