Interference Peptides for Specific Microorganism Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Immunological assays for detecting microorganisms in biological samples often face interference issues due to non-specific antigen-antibody reactions, leading to false positives and reduced sensitivity, which existing methods cannot completely eliminate without compromising test sensitivity.
Innovation Solution
The use of specific peptides with 50% or more identity over 7-12 amino acids from the peptide sequences of interfering microorganisms and target microorganisms, aligned with at least 4 contiguous identical or analogous amino acids, to neutralize false-positive reactions without affecting test sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional interference reduction substances (carbohydrates, proteins, modified proteins) are added to eliminate false positives, then specificity is improved, but test sensitivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a specific peptide as an intermediary substance that mediates between the interfering antibodies and the binding partners. This peptide selectively binds to interfering antibodies (such as anti-animal antibodies in patient serum) to prevent them from reacting with the assay's binding partners, thereby eliminating false positives without affecting the detection of true analytes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the chemical and structural parameters of the interference reduction substance by using a specifically designed peptide with defined amino acid sequence (7-12 amino acids) and specific properties (isoelectric point, hydrophobicity). This peptide has optimized parameters to bind interfering antibodies while maintaining assay sensitivity, unlike conventional substances such as carbohydrates or proteins.
2Measurement precision
If peptides with high sequence identity from interfering microorganisms are used to neutralize false positives, then false positive elimination is improved, but test sensitivity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using a short peptide segment (7-12 amino acids) that locally represents the interfering microorganism's antigenic properties. This localized peptide sequence is sufficient to neutralize interfering antibodies without requiring the entire protein structure, thereby maintaining assay sensitivity while eliminating false positives.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a simplified copy of the interfering antigen by synthesizing a peptide that replicates only the essential antigenic determinants (epitopes) responsible for causing false positives. This peptide copy contains 50% or more identity with the native interfering antigen sequence, enabling it to bind interfering antibodies effectively while being small enough not to interfere with the actual assay detection.
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 approach effectively reduces or eliminates false positives in immunological assays, enhancing the specificity of microorganism detection without compromising the sensitivity of the tests, thereby ensuring accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Implementation Method 1
non-specific antigen-antibody reactions due to the presence, in the sample tested, of substances interfering with the assay, such as antibodies, which bind to the binding partners used for the assay
Data Source
Figure 1~4
AI summary
The invention relates to novel interfering peptides having peptide sequence S with between 7 and 12 amino acids, originating from the peptide sequence of an antigenic protein of a micro-organism M, said sequence S being aligned with a peptide sequence S' with between 7 and 12 amino acids originating from the peptide sequence of a target protein of a micro-organism M' that is different from micro-organism M, provided that: sequences S and S' have at least 50% identity over their length of 7 to 12 amino acids and at least 4 identical or analogous contiguous amino acids; and their length is identical or they have 1 or 2 different amino acids distributed at one and/or the other end of said sequences. The invention also relates to the use thereof in a method for the in vitro immunoassay-based detection of the presence of a micro-organism M' or M in a biological sample in order to improve specificity.