Targeted Proteomics SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Detection Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ELISA-based methods for detecting SARS-CoV-2 antibodies are labor-intensive, costly, and not suitable for high-throughput testing, lacking specificity and accuracy, which hinders mass testing and personalized vaccination strategies.
Innovation Solution
A targeted proteomics method using mass spectrometry to identify and quantify binding molecules in biological fluids by capturing them with bait molecules such as SARS-CoV-2 spike, nucleocapsid, or envelope proteins, allowing for rapid detection and monitoring of antibodies and proteins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ELISA-based methods are used to detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, then antibody detection capability is achieved, but the method is labor-intensive and not suitable for high-throughput testing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual ELISA procedures with automated liquid handling robots and high-throughput screening systems. The mechanical operations of adding reagents, washing plates, and reading results are automated, transforming a labor-intensive manual process into an automated high-throughput system capable of processing thousands of samples daily.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the ELISA process into modular components that can be performed in parallel across multiple plates and stations. By dividing the workflow into discrete automated steps (sample loading, reagent addition, incubation, washing, detection), the system achieves high throughput while minimizing manual intervention.
2Ease of manufacture
If ELISA-based methods are used to detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, then antibody detection is achieved, but cost-effectiveness is reduced due to high operational costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple ELISA assays into a single high-throughput platform that processes multiple samples simultaneously. By merging reagent storage, sample preparation, assay execution, and data analysis into an integrated automated system, the patent reduces per-sample costs while increasing operational efficiency through parallel processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key operational parameters including sample throughput volume, reagent consumption rates, and processing time to optimize cost-effectiveness. The automated system achieves economies of scale by processing large volumes of samples with standardized protocols, reducing variable costs while maintaining detection accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If ELISA-based methods are used to detect SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, then total IgG measurement is achieved, but specificity and accuracy are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces automated liquid handling robots and robotic plate manipulators as intermediary devices between the operator and the ELISA assay. These intermediaries execute precise, reproducible operations with minimal human intervention, reducing variability and improving measurement precision while the software manages assay complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses identical replicated ELISA plates and standardized protocols across multiple runs, ensuring consistent measurement conditions. The automated system copies the same precise operations across hundreds of samples, eliminating manual variation and improving reproducibility and accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a high throughput targeted proteomics-based method for identifying and quantifying one or more binding molecules in a biological fluid of an individual. The present invention involves the use of a plurality of bait molecules to capture the binding molecules. The invention uses proteomics techniques, such as mass spectrometry, for the identification and quantification of the binding molecules. The methods of the invention can be used to identify and quantify antibodies produced by an individual, and proteins expressed by an individual, following exposure to antigens, such as viral antigens, particularly coronavirus antigens and more particularly SARS-CoV-2. Exposure may be via vaccination or following natural infection. The methods of the invention can be used to identify and quantify molecules which bind to a range of proteins of interest, such as autoantigens and neoantigens, as well as to viral vectors.