Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Nevertheless, some of the newer biosensor applications presented at the above-mentioned
Immunology Congress include:
(a) Localization and fine mapping of an antigenic site on the nucleocapsid protein of human
parainfluenza virus type 3 (
Sezaile et al., 2009
). The authors point out that human para-
influenza virus type 3 (hPIVN3) is a respiratory tract pathogen. The current study was
performed by the authors to investigate immunodominant regions of hPIV3 nucleocap-
sid (N) protein by using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) raised against recombinant
N protein and human serum specimens from hPIV3 infected individuals. According to
the authors the present study enhances the knowledge of the antigenic structure and
should facilitate the development of better diagnostic methods for hPIV3 infection.
(b) Determination of myelin basic protein (MBP)-reactive antibodies in healthy individuals
and patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) using a novel highly sensitive assay (
Hedegard
et al., 2009
). The authors point out that autoantibodies to MBP are apparently absent in
sera from healthy individuals but their presence has been reported in sera from some
patients with MS. The authors have developed a novel assay for anti-MBP antibodies
(MBPAbs) to analyze the influence of disease-associated MBPAbs and “natural”
MBPAbs in MS patients and healthy individuals, respectively.
(c) Antibodies to Aquaporin-4 in neuromyletic optica (NMO): biological relevance and use
as biomarkers (
Mader et al., 2009
). The authors point out that NMO is a devastating
neurological disease, which is clinically characterized by optic neuritis and longitudi-
nally extensive transverse myletis (LETM). Recently autoantibodies in the serum of
NMO patients have been detected. These autoantibodies target aquaporin 4 (AQP4).
AQP4 is a key constituent of the blood-brain CSF (cerebrospinal fluid). This is a mem-
brane spanning water channel protein localized mainly in the brain and spinal cord. The
authors show that various assays with different sensitivity and specificity have been
developed. Note that in no other organ is consistency of the internal environment more
important than in the brain. In the CNS (central nervous system) a change in the com-
position of the interstitial fluid could lead to uncontrolled brain activity.
(d) Systematic development of a novel biomarker for diagnostic protein biochips: the rheu-
matoid arthritis (RA) case study (
Leuking et al., 2009
). The authors point out that RA is
a chronic, systemic, inflammatory disease. They emphasize that diagnosis and treatment
of the disease is required (almost mandatory) to prevent extensive joint damage, defor-
mity, and functional impairment. They indicate that the diagnosis of RA patients based
on cyclic citrullinated peptides (CCP) is possible with high sensitivity and specificity.
However, the authors emphasize that anti-CCP autoantibodies are preferentially
detected in patients with severe RA, and less frequently in patients with mild RA. Thus,
it may be stated that the present panel of anti-RF and anti-CCP markers may not effec-
tively address the heterogeneity of the disease. The authors are currently developing a
novel set of diagnostic markers based on their proprietary materials. In essence,
