Lateral Flow Assay for Panton-Valentine Leukocidin Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for detecting Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are limited, requiring specialized laboratories and time-consuming processes, making it difficult to rapidly diagnose PVL-associated diseases in primary and secondary healthcare settings.

Innovation Solution

A lateral flow assay using recombinant antibodies raised against S. aureus PVL, PBP2a, and SPA through phage display technology, which allows for rapid detection of these biomolecules in biological samples with minimal sample processing, enabling diagnosis in non-specialized laboratories.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If current detection methods for PVL and MRSA are used, then detection accuracy is maintained, but the process becomes time-consuming and requires specialized laboratories

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection timeVSAvoidlaboratory specialization requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the core detection function from complex specialized laboratory settings by using recombinant antibodies that can specifically bind to PVL, PBP2a, and SPA biomolecules. This allows the detection capability to be transferred to simpler lateral flow assay devices that can be used in routine bacteriological laboratories without specialized equipment or expertise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces recombinant antibodies as intermediary agents that mediate between the target biomolecules (PVL, PBP2a, SPA) and the detection system. These antibodies serve as bridges that enable specific detection while simplifying the overall system complexity, allowing routine laboratories to perform accurate detections without requiring specialized knowledge or equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If rapid detection is implemented, then diagnosis speed is improved, but detection sensitivity and accuracy may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection speedVSAvoiddetection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs preliminary action by using recombinant antibodies that have been pre-engineered and optimized for high affinity and specificity to their target biomolecules. These antibodies are prepared in advance through phage display technology, ensuring that when the lateral flow assay is performed rapidly, the detection accuracy is maintained because the antibodies are already optimized for their targets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by optimizing various parameters of the recombinant antibodies including binding affinity, specificity, and stability. Through phage display technology, multiple iterations of antibody variants are generated and selected based on optimized parameters, allowing rapid detection to be performed with high sensitivity and accuracy simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If specialized laboratory equipment is used, then detection reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to expertise requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoidoperational simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by designing a lateral flow assay system that is self-contained and does not require external specialized equipment or expert operation. The recombinant antibodies are integrated into the assay device itself, and the detection process automatically proceeds through capillary action, producing reliable results that can be interpreted by routine laboratory personnel without specialized training in complex detection methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

The assay provides rapid and accurate detection of PVL, PBP2a, and SPA, facilitating timely treatment and infection control, with a detection limit of around 1 ng/mL, suitable for use in routine bacteriological laboratories without the need for specialized equipment or expertise.

Implementation Method 1

contacting the sample with an antibody, or a functional binding fragment thereof, that binds the expression product to form a conjugate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAntibody-antigen binding:

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentEP2751563B9METHODS, ANTIBODIES AND DEVICES TO DETECT LUKF-PV or LUK-P83

Publication Date: 2018.11.07 ALERE SAN DIEGO INC

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AI summary

The present invention provides methods and devices for detecting the presence of biomolecules in a biological sample, such as PVL, PBP2a and SPA.