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Updated: Jul 4, 2026
A Multiplex Serological Assay for the Detection of Antibody Responses to Arboviruses
Published on: November 4, 2025
Serological study in Tunisian cervical cancer patients
M Achour1, L Kochbati, D Zeghal
1Laboratory of Immuno-Microbiology, Unit of Environmental Immuno-Microbiology and Cancerogenesis (IMEC), Faculty of Sciences, Bizerta, 7021 Zarzouna, Tunisia. mahaachour2000@yahoo.fr
Objective:
The aim of this study is to use a novel ELISA, based on five recombinant HPV-16 and HPV-18 proteins, for detection HPV-specific antibodies in a case-control study.
Patients And Methods:
L1, E6 and E7 genes have been over expressed in Escherichia coli as double fused proteins. These recombinant proteins were used in a GST-capture ELISA as coating antigens. Human sera were collected from women with cervical cancer. Negative human sera were collected from patients apparently healthy and may be affected by other infectious agents.
Results:
Most of the sera showed a positive reactivity to at least one of the HPV-16 or HPV-18 proteins (52/71). A percentage of 39.50% of the sera from HPV-16 infected women and 21.12% of the sera from women infected by HPV-18 genotype recognised at least one of the HPV-16 or HPV-18 proteins. Sera showed different reactivity to L1, E6 and E7 antigens, and only a few serum samples reacted to L1, E6 and E7 HPV-16, E6 and E7 HPV-18 (co-infection). Differences of reactivity between cases and controls were significant (P<0.0001).
Conclusion:
This novel ELISA, based on recombinant HPV-16 and HPV-18 antigens, is able to detect antibodies in women infected by HPV genotypes. The assay is easy to perform and has low cost, making it suitable for monitoring the natural history of HPV infections as well as for detecting pre-existing HPV antibodies in women who receive vaccination.
