Reference:
De Marco Verissimo, C., O’Brien, C., López Corrales, J., Dorey, A., Cwiklinski, K., Lalor, R., … & Doyle, S. (2021). Improved diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 by using nucleoprotein and spike protein fragment 2 in quantitative dual ELISA tests. Epidemiology and Infection, 149, e140, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268821001308
Summary:
The article discusses advancements in diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 through the development of a dual enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using nucleoprotein and spike protein fragment 2. This study highlights the importance of serological testing for understanding immunity and the epidemiology of COVID-19. Researchers produced these proteins recombinantly and tested them against serum samples from various individuals. The dual ELISA demonstrated a sensitivity exceeding existing commercial tests, identifying 10% more true positive cases. Furthermore, the research revealed that antibody responses tend to wane over time, even in patients with severe infections. This innovative diagnostic approach could enhance COVID-19 control strategies by providing more accurate antibody detection and aiding in the assessment of herd immunity.