ELISPOT Detection of Antibody-Secreting Cells for Infection Status
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for diagnosing infections differentiate poorly between acute, latent, and past infections, as they rely on time-consuming culture techniques or antibody detection, which cannot distinguish between active and inactive infection statuses.
Innovation Solution
An in vitro method involving eukaryotic cells incubated with antigens to detect antigen-specific antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) using the ELISPOT technique, allowing differentiation between acute and latent infections by measuring the number of cells secreting specific antibodies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If direct detection of infectious agents is used, then detection accuracy is improved, but time consumption and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) as an intermediary indicator to indirectly detect active infections. Instead of directly detecting infectious agents which requires time-consuming culture methods, the method detects ASCs that secrete antigen-specific antibodies, providing a faster and more practical diagnostic approach while maintaining high detection accuracy for active infections.
2Ease of operation
If antibody detection methods are used, then ease of operation is improved, but ability to differentiate infection status deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by specifically detecting antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) rather than all antibodies in the sample. This localized detection approach focuses on the functional subset of B cells that are actively secreting antibodies, which correlates with active infections, thereby improving infection status differentiation while maintaining operational simplicity.
3Reliability
If culture methods are used to grow isolated infectious agents, then detection reliability is improved, but productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical culture system with an immunological detection system. Instead of using time-consuming in vitro culture methods to grow infectious agents, the method directly detects antibody-secreting cells that respond to the pathogen, eliminating the need for prolonged culture incubation while maintaining diagnostic reliability.
4Measurement precision
If ELISPOT technique is used to detect ASCs, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ELISPOT technique segments the detection process into distinct functional layers: capture antibodies immobilized on the surface to trap secreted antibodies, detection antibodies conjugated with enzymes to identify bound antibodies, and substrate conversion to produce visible spots. This segmentation allows precise quantification of individual ASCs while organizing the complexity into manageable, standardized steps.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method effectively differentiates between acute and latent infections, providing a reliable means to assess infection status and guide therapeutic measures by accurately identifying ASCs responsible for active infections.
Implementation Method 1
eukaryotic cells, preferably on an examination surface or on a support, are incubated with an antigen and cells secreting antigen-specific antibodies (ASCs) are tested whose secreted antibodies are specifically directed against the antigen
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for the in-vitro diagnosis and/or in-vitro therapy monitoring of infections and/or infectious diseases, particularly for differentiating between active infections on one hand, and latent or overcome infections on the other hand, wherein eukaryotic cells are incubated using an antigen, and are tested for antigen-specific antibody-secreting cells (ASCs), the secreting antibodies of which are directed specifically against the antigen.