Author/Editor		Mora-Cárdenas, Eric; Aloise, Chiara; Faoro, Valentina; Knap, Nataša; Korva, Miša; Caracciolo, Ilaria; D'Agaro, Pierlanfranco; Avšič-Županc, Tatjana; Marcello, Alessandro
Title		Comparative specificity and sensitivity of NS1-based serological assays for the detection of flavivirus immune response
Type		članek
Vol. and No.		Letnik 14, št. 1
Publication year		2020
Volume		str. 1-19
ISSN		1935-2735 - PLoS neglected tropical diseases
Language		eng
Abstract		Flaviviruses are relevant animal and human pathogens of increasing importance worldwide. The similarities of the initial clinical symptoms and the serological cross-reactivity of viral structural antigens make a laboratory diagnosis of flavivirus infection problematic. The main aim of the present study was the comparative specificity and sensitivity analysis of the non-structural protein NS1 as an antigen to detect flavivirus antibodies in sera from exposed individuals. A strategy for the purification of native recombinant non-structural protein 1 of representative flaviviruses including tick-borne encephalitis, West Nile, Zika and dengue virus was developed. The immunological properties of the purified antigens were analyzed using sera of immunized mice and of infected individuals in comparison with standard commercial assays. Recombinant NS1 protein was confirmed as a valuable option for the detection of flavivirus antibodies with reduced cross-reactivity and high sensitivity offering additional advantages for the detection of vaccine breakthrough cases.
Keywords		flavivirus serological assays sensitivity flavivirus serološki testi občutljivost