Recombinant antigen diagnostics for filoviruses

DESCRIPTION provided by applicant The proposed project will further develop marketable ELISA and lateral flow immunoassay diagnostics LFI in both monoplexed and multiplexed formats for the NIAID category A BSL filoviruses and will drive pre clinical development and validation for these diagnostics These assays will be used for diagnosis of Ebola virus EBOV Sudan virus SUDV and Marburg virus MARV and will be based on more inexpensive recombinant proteins rather than reagents that must be produced in high containment laboratories We will first scale up production of our existing recombinant filovirus proteins and polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies in order to meet manufacturing and commercialization requirements We will next develop second generation ELISA and LFI prototypes for our existing EBOV SUDV and MARV antigen detection assays Third we will extend the library of available filovirus assays by developing antigen detection tools for the Reston and Bundibugyo viruses Fourth we will prepare for commercialization of the assays in both monoplexed multiplexed formats A multiplexed panel may be ideal for diagnosis as hemorrhagic fevers that are caused by different viruses can present similar symptoms Antigens from the arenavirus Lassa LASV the viral hemorrhagic fever VHF most frequently transported out of Africa have already been developed into ELISA and LFI formats by this consortium Thus a fifth goal to be accomplished in this project time period is to multiplex LASV antigens with those of the filoviruses in order to develop a broader scope diagnostic The resulting multiplexed assays will have utility and marketability for recent travelers who have fallen ill personnel working in BSL laboratories in bioterrorism scenarios and in clinical settings in Africa where these fevers occu naturally The ultimate goal is to establish a panel of recombinant VHF diagnostics that are easy to use quick accurate and cost effective for biodefense and public health purposes Such diagnostics can be stockpiled to protect civilian and military personnel from viral exposure and release Viral hemorrhagic fevers are extremely rare in the U S but accidental or intentional release could have devastating consequences Importantly the simplicity and cost effectiveness of diagnostics such as these will facilitate the necessary availability of these reagents so that they can be put to immediate use in event of virus exposure or release Widespread availability of these simple to use tests will allow rapid containment of the viruses and may even serve as a deterrent from using these pathogens as biological weapons PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE The potential use of the category A filoviruses as biological weapons and the emergence of these viruses among humans wildlife and domesticated animals necessitates development of diagnostics for public health laboratories hospital based clinical laboratories and point of care use The availability of highly sensitive and specific ye adaptable diagnostics in easy to use inexpensive formats would facilitate usage at any location and would allow more rapid identification of these viruses differential diagnosis from other causes of similar disease and provision of appropriate treatments barriers and ring vaccination protocols to contain the disease