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Reiner, Christina ; Hoecherl, Kilian ; Einhauser, Sebastian ; Streif, Simon ; Spitzenberg, Clemens ; Konrad, Johannes ; Neckermann, Patrick ; Breunig, Miriam ; Pauly, Diana ; Wagner, Ralf ; Baeumner, Antje J.

Development of a Novel Homogeneous Liposome-Based One-Step Assay for SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Detection in Human Serum Based on Fluorescent Liposomes and Complement Activity

Reiner, Christina, Hoecherl, Kilian, Einhauser, Sebastian , Streif, Simon , Spitzenberg, Clemens , Konrad, Johannes , Neckermann, Patrick , Breunig, Miriam , Pauly, Diana , Wagner, Ralf and Baeumner, Antje J. (2025) Development of a Novel Homogeneous Liposome-Based One-Step Assay for SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Detection in Human Serum Based on Fluorescent Liposomes and Complement Activity. Analytical Chemistry.

Date of publication of this fulltext: 10 Nov 2025 15:21
Article
DOI to cite this document: 10.5283/epub.78121


Abstract

Monitoring antibodies in patient serum enables the diagnosis of infectious and chronic diseases, the assessment of an individual’s immune status, and possible protection against infection and could thus be a ubiquitous tool for pandemic preparedness and personalized medicine. Advancing from the traditional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), a homogeneous assay format was developed that ...

Monitoring antibodies in patient serum enables the diagnosis of infectious and chronic diseases, the assessment of an individual’s immune status, and possible protection against infection and could thus be a ubiquitous tool for pandemic preparedness and personalized medicine. Advancing from the traditional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), a homogeneous assay format was developed that simplifies assay procedures and enables a wash-free one-step performance. SARS-CoV-2 was chosen as the model virus, and its Spike protein-derived receptor binding domain (RBD) was covalently coupled to fluorescent liposomes. The binding of patient antibodies triggered the complement system, led to liposome lysis, and allowed quantitative fluorescent detection. The liposome assay was optimized with respect to liposome lipid composition, RBD coverage and surface chemistry, incubation conditions, and pretreatment of a standardized complement source. A proof-of-principle was demonstrated through artificially supplemented anti-RBD antibodies and full titrations with known positive sera. Testing of 37 SARS-CoV-2 negative sera and 28 sera from individuals with SARS-CoV-2 (breakthrough) infections resulted in a specificity of 95%, sensitivity of 93% and an excellent correlation (R2 = 0.82, Spearman r = 0.90) with antibody titers determined in an ELISA approved for diagnostic use. Finally, the liposome assay showed a good correlation to a pseudovirus neutralization test (pVNT) (R2 = 0.72, Spearman r = 0.84), similar to the diagnostic ELISA. As the new liposome assay does not require any wash steps and can be easily adapted to other viral targets by changing the surface antigen, it provides a new avenue for high-throughput immunodiagnostics.



Involved Institutions


Details

Item typeArticle
Journal or Publication TitleAnalytical Chemistry
Publisher:American Chemical Society (ACS)
Open Access Type:ACS Hybrid
Date30 October 2025
InstitutionsChemistry and Pharmacy > Institut für Analytische Chemie, Chemo- und Biosensorik > Chemo- und Biosensorik (Prof. Antje J. Bäumner, formerly Prof. Wolfbeis)
Projects
Funded by: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) (13GW0604C)
Identification Number
ValueType
10.1021/acs.analchem.5c04506DOI
KeywordsAssays, Biopolymers, Immunology, Peptides and proteins, Vesicles
Dewey Decimal Classification500 Science > 540 Chemistry & allied sciences
StatusPublished
RefereedYes, this version has been refereed
Created at the University of RegensburgYes
URN of the UB Regensburgurn:nbn:de:bvb:355-epub-781219
Item ID78121

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