Microscopy-based assay for semi-quantitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies in human sera

Pape, C.; Remme, R.; Wolny, A.; Olberg, S.; Wolf, S.; Cerrone, L.; Cortese, M.; Klaus, S.; Lucic, B.; Ullrich, S.; Anders-Össwein, M.; Berati, C.; Neufeld, C.; Ganter, M.; Schnitzler, P.; Merle, U.; Lusic, M.; Boulant, S.; Stanifer, M.; Bartenschlager, R.; Hamprecht, F. A.; Kreshuk, A.; Tischer, C.; Kräusslich, H.-G.; Müller, B.; Laketa, V.

doi:10.1101/2020.06.15.152587

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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2020.06.15.152587

Microscopy-based assay for semi-quantitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies in human sera

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Abstract

Emergence of the novel pathogenic coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and its rapid pandemic spread presents numerous questions and challenges that demand immediate attention. Among these is the urgent need for a better understanding of humoral immune response against the virus as a basis for developing public health strategies to control viral spread. For this, sensitive, specific and quantitative serological assays are required. Here we describe the development of a semi-quantitative high-content microscopy-based assay for detection of three major classes (IgG, IgA and IgM) of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies in human samples. The possibility to detect antibodies against the entire viral proteome together with a robust semi-automated image analysis workflow resulted in specific, sensitive and unbiased assay which complements the portfolio of SARS-CoV-2 serological assays. The procedure described here has been used for clinical studies and provides a general framework for the application of quantitative high-throughput microscopy to rapidly develop serological assays for emerging virus infections.

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Pape, C., Remme, R., Wolny, A., Olberg, S., Wolf, S., Cerrone, L., Cortese, M., Klaus, S., Lucic, B., Ullrich, S., Anders-Össwein, M., Berati, C., Neufeld, C., Ganter, M., Schnitzler, P., Merle, U., Lusic, M., Boulant, S., Stanifer, M., Bartenschlager, R., Hamprecht, F. A., Kreshuk, A., Tischer, C., Kräusslich, H.-G., Müller, B., Laketa, V.. 2020-06-15. Microscopy-based assay for semi-quantitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies in human sera. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.06.15.152587

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