Bioluminescent detection probe for tick-borne encephalitis virus immunoassay

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Virology
• Immunology

Background:

• Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) causes severe human neuroinfections.
• Accurate and sensitive detection methods for TBEV are crucial for diagnosis and control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel immunoassay for TBEV detection.
• To utilize a bioluminescent hybrid protein as a detection probe.

Main Methods:

• Constructed and produced a hybrid protein with Renilla luciferase and a TBEV-specific scFv.
• Tested the hybrid protein's affinity and bioluminescent activity.
• Applied the hybrid protein in a solid-phase immunoassay for TBEV antigens.

Main Results:

• The hybrid protein demonstrated specific binding to TBEV antigens and retained bioluminescent activity.
• The immunoassay showed high sensitivity for detecting glycoprotein E and virus particles.
• The assay proved simple and competitive with existing TBEV detection methods.

Conclusions:

• The developed bioluminescent immunoassay is a sensitive and efficient tool for TBEV detection.
• This method offers a promising alternative for diagnosing TBEV infections.