A novel digital workflow tool to simplify matched pair antibody identification for improved immunoassay development

PROJECT SUMMARY The development of robust immunoassays, such as Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), lateral flow assays (LFA), and ELISpot, are crucial for advancing research, drug development, bioproduction, and clinical diagnostics. A fundamental challenge in this process is the identification of high-quality matched antibody pairs that bind to distinct target epitopes, which is essential for optimal assay performance. Current methods for iden- tifying matched pairs are primarily based on expensive, time-consuming, empirical in-house efforts or reliance on pre-bundled pairs from manufacturers, which may not always meet specific assay, species, and target re- quirements. There is an unmet need for innovative workflow tools that streamline the process of identifying com- mercially available matched pairs to significantly reduce time, costs, and improve assay reliability. FluoroFinder is developing the Matched Pair tool, an innovative solution designed to revolutionize the way researchers identify and select matched antibody pairs for immunoassay development. The Matched Pair tool aims to simplify and optimize the process of identifying commercially available antibodies with the potential to work as immunoassay matched pairs. This tool will enable efficient searches across all listed commercially available products and man- ufacturers including pre-validated matched pair kits and it will facilitate the creation of novel antibody pairs by matching primary antibodies from different suppliers. The Matched Pair tool will also integrate validation infor- mation from suppliers and peer-reviewed publications to increase confidence in the proposed novel matched pairs, as well as a scoring algorithm to evaluate the likelihood of success for each matched pair based on protein sequence data and available validation information. The objectives of this Phase I project include the develop- ment of a prototype Matched Pair tool and the demonstration of its efficacy in identifying and ranking potential matched pairs. Aim 1 will focus on expanding databases with UniProt and commercial citation databases (e.g., CiteAb, Bioz, PubMed) integrations to facilitate comprehensive searching and comparison of proteins. Aim 2 will focus on search/scoring algorithm development and user interface/user experience (UI/UX), where a functional prototype of the Matched Pair tool will be completed. Aim 3 will include a feasibility study with end users to assess the tool's effectiveness and demonstrate proof-of-concept for the tool. The successful development and imple- mentation of the Matched Pair tool has the potential to significantly impact the field of immunoassay development by providing a streamlined, efficient method for reducing the number of matched antibody pairs that need to be empirically screened. Commercialization of the Matched Pair tool is expected to reduce costs and time associ- ated with immunoassay development, potentially improve assay performance and reliability, and improve stand- ardization and reproducibility in the immunoassay field.