Generic Immunoassay Research Articles

Hapten Design and Antibody Generation for Immunoanalysis of Spirotetramat and Spirotetramat-enol.

Spirotetramat—a tetramic acid insecticide—is rapidly metabolized or degraded to give spirotetramat-enol; so, common residue definitions include the sum of both compounds. In the present study, two spirotetramat-functionalized derivatives (haptens) have been designed to generate immunoreagents to these molecules for rapid immunochemical analysis. Haptens have been synthesized with alternative linker tethering sites and, for the first time, high-affinity antibodies have been generated with different specificities to these active principles. Two sensitive assays have been developed using the same antibody in different formats, and by using linker-site heterologous haptens, the selectivity of the final immunoassay could be improved. A generic immunoassay with sensitivity similar to spirotetramat and spirotetramat-enol and a specific assay of spirotetramat-enol have been developed. The described antibody and bioconjugates showed great potential for sensitive immunosensor development and analysis of this complex analyte.

An extended range generic immunoassay for total human therapeutic antibodies in preclinical pharmacokinetic studies

Bioanalytical support of discovery programs for human monoclonal antibody therapies involves quantitation by immunoassay. Historically, preclinical samples have been analyzed by the traditional Enzyme-Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay (ELISA). We investigated transferring our generic ELISA for quantitating human IgG constructs in preclinical serum samples to an automated microfluidics immunoassay platform based on nanoscale streptavidin bead columns. Transfer of our immunoassay to the automated platform resulted in not only the anticipated reduction in analysts' time required for manual manipulation (ELISA) but also a substantial increase in the dynamic range of the immunoassay. The generic nature and wide dynamic range of this automated microcolumn immunoassay permit bioanalytical support of novel therapeutic candidates without the need to develop new, specific assay reagents and minimize the chances that sample reassays will be required due to out of range concentration results. Improved process efficiencies and enhanced workflow during the analysis of preclinical PK samples that enable high throughput assessment of a human monoclonal antibody lead in early discovery programs.

Development of generic immunoassay for the detection of a series of aminoglycosides with 6′-OH group for the treatment of genetic diseases in biological samples

Over the last two decades, a growing number of scientific evidences highlighted the potential therapeutic value of several structures of aminoglycoside antibiotics (including gentamicin and G418) for the treatment of various genetic diseases caused by nonsense mutations. These findings resulted in a fast evolvement of synthetic derivatives of aminoglycosides which were shown to be more target specific and less toxic than the clinically used antibiotics. The emerging progress in drug design and development has necessitated the urge to develop a fast, easy and accurate procedure for the determination of these potential therapeutic agents in various biologically derived matrices. Here we describe the preparation of a generic polyclonal antibody that was used for the development of homologous and heterologous immunoassays for the detection of a wide range of natural and synthetic aminoglycoside derivatives, highlighted today as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of various genetic diseases. A common two-ring scaffold, NB82, present in the majority of compounds exhibiting potent biological activity, was used as a generic immunization hapten for the immunization of two rabbits. By using a series of chemical steps, NB82 was selectively conjugated via the N-1 position through glutaric acid linker to a carrier protein. Sensitivity (I50) values for the recognition of three representative compounds NB82, NB84 and NB124 were determined to be 10±3ngmL−1, 0.5±0.04μgmL−1 and 1±0.12μgmL−1, respectively. Limits of detection were determined to be 1±0.3ngmL−1 for NB82, 20±7ngmL−1 for NB84 and 15±8ngmL−1 for NB124. The developed assays were further exploited for the in vivo monitoring of the therapeutic compounds in mice serum. Serum experimentations exhibited similar detection limits as observed for the PBS calibration experiments, demonstrating no interference with assays sensitivity, with rather high recovery ratios ranging from 92 to 107% in whole blood samples.

Characterization of murine anti-human Fab antibodies for use in an immunoassay for generic quantification of human Fab fragments in non-human serum samples including cynomolgus monkey samples

Generic immunoassay formats in animal serum have been described for pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis of human full-length antibodies, but not of human antigen binding fragment (Fab) proteins. Here we characterize two murine monoclonal antibodies (mAb) raised against human immunoglobulin G (IgG) which bind to unique epitopes in the Fab region of human IgG. mAb M-1.7.10 is directed against the constant domain of the kappa light chain and mAb M-1.19.31 binds to the constant domain 1 (CH1) of the heavy chain. Surface plasmon resonance analysis showed that mAb M-1.7.10 does not cross-react with sera from mouse, rat, rabbit, dog, marmoset, rhesus macaque, baboon and cynomolgus monkey, but binds to human and chimpanzee serum (dissociation constant KD of 6.8×10−12 and 3.1×10−11M, respectively). mAb M-1.19.31 shows a higher KD for human and chimpanzee IgG (2.0×10−9M and 5.8×10−10M, respectively), but also does not bind to serum of the other species. Therefore, mAb M-1.7.10 was used as capture and mAb M-1.19.31 as detection reagent in a generic enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to quantify the human anti-IGF-1R Fab in mouse serum. The generic human Fab assay showed a limit of detection of 31.5ng/mL anti-IGF-1R Fab. Intra- and inter-assay precision was less than 12% and the accuracy range for all controls was within ±20% of the target concentration. The generic human Fab ELISA was applied to determine serum levels of human anti-IGF-1R Fab after intravenous (iv) administration of 10mg/kg to mice. The resulting concentration–time profile was nearly identical to that obtained by analysis with a validated specific ELISA for anti-IGF-1R Fab. The mean relative concentration of anti-IGF-1R Fab analyzed by the generic assay was 82–118% of that of the specific assay. This equivalence was confirmed in a cynomolgus monkey study with the full length human mAb anti-TROP-2 IgG. Both specific ELISAs used mAb M-1.7.10 as detection reagent and their targets for capturing. In conclusion, the two murine anti-human Fabs are versatile tools as capture and detection reagents for human antibodies in generic and specific PK ELISA formats for animal studies. Their use in specific ELISAs as detection reagents allows the usage of Fc-fusion proteins as capture reagents.

Generic Immunoassay of Quinolones: Production and Characterization of Anti-pefloxacin Antibodies as Broad Selective Receptors

Polyclonal antibodies were raised against pefloxacin, and their specificity to different quinolones was investigated and validated. The results of the competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ci-ELISA) demonstrated that the mice anti-pefloxacin antibody could efficiently bind with at least nine quinolones, and to six of them, the cross-reactivity was calculated higher than 65%. Exploiting these antibodies as receptors, six quinolones in fortified eel samples were effectively detected by both ci-ELISA and dot immunogold filtration assay, in which the least detection limit was estimated as ≤ 10 μg/kg and ≤ 20 μg/kg, respectively. These results fit well with molecular modeling studies based on field-overlapping and allow us to suggest possible applications of anti-pefloxacin antibody as a new broad selective receptor for generic assay of quinolones.

Evaluation of a generic immunoassay with drug tolerance to detect immune complexes in serum samples from cynomolgus monkeys after administration of human antibodies

Current state of the art bridging ELISA technologies for detection of anti-drug antibodies (ADAs) against therapeutic antibodies bear the risk of false-negative results due to interference by circulating drug. Methods to remove the drug in the sample or sample pre-treatment techniques such as acid dissociation of the immune complexes are limited, laborious and may destroy ADAs resulting again in false-negative results. The immune complex ELISA described in this publication provides a simple solution. It is designed to analyze samples from cynomolgus monkeys dosed with human antibodies; it can be used for all human antibodies since it is independent of the specific antibody and its target. The generic applicability of the ADA assay is enabled by the use of (1) a murine anti-human Fc monoclonal antibody (MAb) as capture reagent; (2) a murine anti-cynomolgus monkey IgG MAb as detection reagent; and (3) an ADA positive control conjugate consisting of cynomolgus IgG complexed with human IgG. In its basic version, the generic ADA ELISA specifically detects only immune complexes formed in vivo. Validation of the ADA assay revealed a lower limit of quantitation of 15.6 ng/mL in serum samples. Intra-assay and inter-assay precision was characterized by a coefficient of variation of less than 10% and accuracy was within 8%. Matrix effects were low as evidenced by a mean recovery of 95%. In vitro pre-incubation of the serum samples with drug makes also the free ADA in the sample amenable to measurement by the immune complex ELISA as demonstrated by analysis of ADAs from two cynomolgus monkey studies with two different antibodies. The generic and versatile nature of this ADA assay favors its use in pilot pharmacokinetic and safety studies in cynomolgus monkeys during candidate selection of antibodies. The assay can help to explain unexpected drug clearance profiles, loss of efficacy or safety events caused by immune complexes and guide further development.

Broad-Specific Antibodies for a Generic Immunoassay of Quinolone: Development of a Molecular Model for Selection of Haptens Based on Molecular Field-Overlapping

A new molecular model for quinolone haptens was developed based on molecular field-overlapping. The quanlitive modeling of 3-D conformations showed that the conformation difference among quinolones is caused mainly by the different substitutes at the 1 and 7 positions. The 8-substitute also showed some effect by its inter-reaction with the 1-substitute. The conformational similarity of 27 quinolones to each other was for the first time calculated and exploited for a selection of haptens according to desired broad specificity of corresponding antibodies. The developed model was preliminarily validated with antibodies against different quinolones. A significant positive correlation (R = 0.7793) was observed between calculated overlapping coefficients of haptens and the cross-reactivity of corresponding polyclonal antibodies (Pabs), which confirmed the overall accuracy of the developed model and its application in quantitative structure-activity relationship analysis. On the basis of molecular modeling results, the strategy for the production of broad specific antibodies against quinolones was suggested and the potentiality of several candidates was predicted.

Metal-enhanced fluorescence immunoassays using total internal reflection and silver island-coated surfaces

We present a generic immunoassay platform that uses enhanced total internal reflection fluorescence in the proximity of silver island films (SIFs), a surface coating consisting of metal (silver) particles. This platform is used with a model immunoassay where a protein antigen, rabbit immunoglobulin G, was immobilized on the SIF-coated glass surface. The signal from a fluorescent dye-labeled anti-rabbit antibody binding to the surface antigen was detected; different color dyes have been tested. Close placement of the fluorophore to surface-bound silver nanostructures results in dramatic signal enhancement (up to 40-fold) on the SIFs as compared with the glass slides. Use of the total internal reflection mode of excitation has significant advantages (over classic front-face excitation) for practical assay development. The limited evanescent wave excitation volume makes it possible to minimize the background signal and use the immunoassay with no need for any washing steps.

A flow immunoassay for alkylphenol ethoxylate surfactants and their metabolites—questions associated with cross-reactivity, matrix effects, and validation by chromatographic techniques

This paper describes the application and evaluation of a competitive enzyme flow injection immunoassay (EFIIA) for screening of alkylphenol ethoxylate (APEO) surfactants in different water samples based on a generic immunoassay system previously developed (see E. Burestedt, C Nistor, U. Schagerlof and J. Emneus, Anal. Chem., 2000, 72, 4171–4177). The detection limits for octylphenol ethoxylates (OPEOs), nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEOs), and nonylphenol (NP) were 0.5 µg l−1, between 2 and 3 µg l−1, and 50 µg l−1, respectively, with a sample throughput of 6 h−1 (i.e., for triplicate analysis of each sample). Different OPEOs and NPEOs were highly cross-reactive within the assay, with sensitivities in the same order of magnitude for all the ethoxylates tested, thus the result obtained by the EFIIA method could be used as an “alkylphenol ethoxylate index”. No or minor matrix effects with recoveries between 70–120% for the reference analyte NPEO10 in tap, and surface water, and acceptable for rainwater, were observed. Influent and effluent surfactant containing wastewater samples were analysed by EFIIA, LC-MS, LC-Fluoresence (LC-FL), and a commercial microplate ELISA. High recoveries for different concentrations of APEO10 spiked into a 200 times diluted raw influent and effluent wastewater were achieved with the EFIIA method, however, the found APEO content of the same diluted wastewater samples, before spiking, could not be correlated directly to the chromatographic result by any of the immunoassays, and the possible reasons for this are discussed. The same trend of decreasing APEO content from influent to effluent wastewater could, however, be followed for all methods employed.

Generic immunoassay of corticosteroids with minimum pre-treatment of urine samples.

A generic, rapid and sensitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test has been developed which allows large-scale simultaneous testing of synthetic corticosteroids viz., flumethasone, dexamethasone and betamethasone. This assay can be directly applied to diluted urine samples (1 + 9) without hydrolysis of glucuronide or sulfate conjugates or any other treatment of samples. The polyclonal antibody was obtained by immunizing sheep with a flumethasone derivative linked to human serum albumin. This polyclonal antibody displayed high-reactivity with several synthetic corticosteroids whilst endogenous corticosteroids such as cortisol gave very low cross-reactivity (< 0.5%). Sensitivities obtained in this assay were 2.5, 3.1 and 12.5 ng ml-1 for flumethasone, dexamethasone and betamethasone, respectively. The ability of this assay to detect several synthetic corticosteroids was demonstrated by testing urine samples from horses to which the drugs had been administered.

Immunoassay for parathion without its prior removal from solution in hexane

Immunoaffinity methods are presently finding limited applications in environmental analysis because many target compounds are best handled in non-polar solvents such as hexane. These solvents can be detrimental to protein molecules, particularly when the solvating water which is necessary for bioactivity is lost. Consequently, a generic immunoassay principle which would allow the provision of samples dissolved in hexane was sought. A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method for the measurement of aqueous parathion was developed, optimized and then adapted to the measurement of the analyte without its prior removal from hexane. The parathion-specific antiserum was encapsulated in reverse micelles composed of Aerosol OT and having aqueous centres, and a solution of parathion in hexane was then allowed to compete for antibody binding sites with the antigen-coated surface of a microtitre plate. The calibration graph for the hexane-compatible ELISA method is displaced from its aqueous counterpart in correspondence with the partition coefficient of parathion between water and hexane, this method being about 104-fold more sensitive. It is probable that the thermodynamic barrier to the transfer of parathion from an organic bulk phase to the aqueous interior of a reverse micelle balances the antigen–antibody binding strength and thus reduces the potency of parathion as an antigenic competitor. Means are suggested for tuning the calibration graph of the hexane-compatible ELISA method to the analyte concentration range that is of interest.