A multiplex ELISA-based protein array for screening diagnostic antigens and diagnosis of Flaviviridae infection

Assays with the ability to detect multiple antibodies in parallel have a wide range of potential applications in epidemiologic research. Here, a multiplex enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based protein array (ELISA-array) was developed to simultaneously detect five Flaviviridae infections. The platform was based on an indirect ELISA and 15 antigens were constructed for specific antibody detection against five Flaviviridae viruses (Japanese B, tick-borne encephalitis, West Nile, dengue, and yellow fever viruses) and four serotypes of dengue virus. The specificity was evaluated by calculating the signal value cross-reacting with serum immunized with other viruses, and the sensitivity of antigens was compared with conventional ELISAs using immunized rabbit polyclonal antisera. IgG and IgM calibration curves were constructed to evaluate the reproducibility of the platform. Finally, 24 dengue fever (DF) infection and 15 tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) infection clinical sera were used to compare the advantage of ELISA-array to ELISA. After initial screening, 9 out of 15 antigens were chosen for ELISA-array printing. By using different virus-immunized rabbit antiserum, 7 out of 9 antigens showed good specificity in the ELISA-array. Eight out of 9 antigens showed four-fold greater sensitivity in ELISA-array compared to that in conventional ELISAs. The coefficients of determination (r (2)) close to 1 showed high reproducibility, and clinical sera test showed that ELISA-array had higher specificity and sensitivity than traditional ELISA. ELISA-array was a good platform for antigen screening and this multiplexed assay might be a useful and convenient tool for multiple immunological detection of infectious viral antibodies.