• Media type: E-Article
  • Title: Analysis of allelic cross-reactivity of monoclonal IgG antibodies by a multiplexed reverse FluoroSpot assay
  • Contributor: Hoffmann-Veltung, Henriette; Anabire, Nsoh Godwin; Ofori, Michael Fokuo; Janhmatz, Peter; Ahlborg, Niklas; Hviid, Lars; Quintana, Maria del Pilar
  • imprint: eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd, 2022
  • Published in: eLife
  • Language: English
  • DOI: 10.7554/elife.79245
  • ISSN: 2050-084X
  • Origination:
  • Footnote:
  • Description: <jats:p>The issue of antibody cross-reactivity is of central importance in immunology, and not least in protective immunity to <jats:italic>Plasmodium falciparum</jats:italic> malaria, where key antigens show substantial allelic variation (polymorphism). However, serological analysis often does not allow the distinction between true cross-reactivity (one antibody recognizing multiple antigen variants) and apparent cross-reactivity (presence of multiple variant-specific antibodies), as it requires analysis at the single B-cell/monoclonal antibody level. ELISpot is an assay that enables that, and a recently developed multiplexed variant of ELISpot (FluoroSpot) facilitates simultaneous assessment of B-cell/antibody reactivity to several different antigens. In this study, we present a further enhancement of this assay that makes direct analysis of monoclonal antibody-level cross-reactivity with allelic variants feasible. Using VAR2CSA-type PfEMP1—a notoriously polymorphic antigen involved in the pathogenesis of placental malaria—as a model, we demonstrate the robustness of the assay and its applicability to analysis of true cross-reactivity of monoclonal VAR2CSA-specific antibodies in naturally exposed individuals. The assay is adaptable to the analysis of other polymorphic antigens, rendering it a powerful tool in studies of immunity to malaria and many other diseases.</jats:p>
  • Access State: Open Access