A Serological Multiplexed Immunoassay (MIA) Detects Antibody Reactivity to SARS-CoV-2 and Other Viral Pathogens in Liberia and Is Configurable as a Multiplexed Inhibition Test (MINT)
Brien K. Haun,
Albert To,
Caitlin A. Williams,
Aquena Ball,
Karalyn Fong,
Teri Ann S. Wong,
Bode Shobayo,
Julius Teahton,
Lauren Ching,
Varney Kamara,
Davidetta M. Tekah,
Peter Humphrey,
John Berestecky,
Vivek R. Nerurkar,
Axel T. Lehrer
Affiliations
Brien K. Haun
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
Albert To
Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, John A Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
Caitlin A. Williams
Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, John A Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
Aquena Ball
Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, John A Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
Karalyn Fong
Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, John A Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
Teri Ann S. Wong
Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, John A Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
Bode Shobayo
National Public Health Institute of Liberia, Monrovia 1000, Liberia
Julius Teahton
National Public Health Institute of Liberia, Monrovia 1000, Liberia
Lauren Ching
Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, John A Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
Varney Kamara
Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, John A Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
Davidetta M. Tekah
Department of Biological Sciences, Medical Science, TJR Faulkner College of Science and Technology, University of Liberia, Fendall 1000, Liberia
Peter Humphrey
Department of Biological Sciences, Medical Science, TJR Faulkner College of Science and Technology, University of Liberia, Fendall 1000, Liberia
John Berestecky
Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, John A Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
Vivek R. Nerurkar
Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, John A Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
Axel T. Lehrer
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic ignited global efforts to rapidly develop testing, therapeutics, and vaccines. However, the rewards of these efforts were slow to reach many low- to middle-income countries (LMIC) across the African continent and globally. Therefore, two bead-based multiplexed serological assays were developed to determine SARS-CoV-2 exposure across four counties in Liberia. This study was conducted during the summer of 2021 on 189 samples collected throughout Grand Bassa, Bong, Margibi, and Montserrado counties. Our multiplexed immunoassay (MIA) detected elevated exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and multiple variant antigens. Additionally, we detected evidence of exposure to Dengue virus serotype 2, Chikungunya virus, and the seasonal coronavirus NL63. Our multiplexed inhibition test (MINT) was developed from the MIA to observe antibody-mediated inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding to its cognate cellular receptor ACE-2. We detected inhibitory antibodies in the tested Liberian samples, which were collectively consistent with a convalescent serological profile. These complementary assays serve to supplement existing serological testing needs and may enhance the technical capacity of scientifically underrepresented regions globally.
