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Flow Cytometry Multiplex Bead Array Technology and Its Immunological Clinical Applications in Covid-19 Era
I Pavlovski1, E M Riachi2, S Macha3
1Department of Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology Institute of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics «Sts Cyril and Methodius» University, 1000 Skopje, North Macedonia.
Insights
Flow Cytometry Multiplex Bead Array (FCMBA) technology effectively measures immune responses, including cytokines and antibodies, for infections and vaccinations. This advanced method offers superior analysis of humoral immunity compared to traditional assays.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Biotechnology
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Assessing adaptive and humoral immune responses requires multiplex cytokine and immunoglobulin isotype analysis.
- Flow Cytometry Multiplex Bead Array (FCMBA) is a powerful technology for simultaneous detection of multiple analytes.
- FCMBA is increasingly utilized in immune profiling for various diseases and therapies, including COVID-19 research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of FCMBA technology and its capabilities.
- To highlight the advantages of FCMBA over conventional Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) methods.
- To discuss the clinical applications of FCMBA in understanding COVID-19 humoral immune responses.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing Flow Cytometry Multiplex Bead Array (FCMBA) technology.
- Simultaneously quantifying multiple cytokines and immunoglobulin isotypes.
- Comparing FCMBA performance against traditional ELISA techniques.
Main Results:
- FCMBA demonstrates high efficacy in detecting and quantifying numerous analytes in a single reaction.
- The technology excels in assessing the depth of humoral response to COVID-19 vaccinations.
- FCMBA shows advantages over ELISA for analyzing immune responses post-infection and post-vaccination.
Conclusions:
- FCMBA is a versatile and superior technology for comprehensive immune system functional evaluation.
- Its application is crucial for deciphering COVID-19-triggered humoral immunity, aiding vaccine development and convalescent plasma therapy.
- FCMBA offers significant potential for future clinical applications in immunology.
Abstract:
A thorough functional evaluation of the immune system requires a method capable of measuring multiple cytokines to assess the adaptive immune response, as well as immunoglobulin isotypes and seroconversion to evaluate the humoral immune response following infections and vaccinations. Flow Cytometry Multiplex Bead Array (FCMBA) technology has been shown to be highly effective in detecting and quantifying numerous analytes simultaneously in a single reaction well. This technique is increasingly being used in immune profiling for cytokines in various disease contexts, as well as in adoptive cell transfer, immunotherapies, and more recently, in the characterization of humoral responses to newly developed COVID-19 vaccinations. FCMBA technology has shown advantages in assessing the depth of the humoral response mounted against COVID-19 vaccinations, compared to post-COVID infection status, and screening for the suitability of sera for use in COVID-19 convalescent plasma therapy. In this article, we present an overview of the FCMBA technology concept and its versatility, highlighting its ability to map many essential analytes and its superiority over conventional Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) techniques. Furthermore, we discuss the current and potential clinical applications of this technology in deciphering COVID-19-triggered humoral immune responses, whether after contracting the infection or post-vaccination.
