Background

Serological assays are used to identify immune responses to pathogens and all follow a conventional set-up: the antigen is used directly or coated/coupled on the assays solid surface to detect for the presence of antibodies against the antigen in serum samples. However, when native pathogens or crude extracts are used, problems of background and cross-reactivity and reduction of specificity and/or sensitivity of the assay often arise.

Technology Overview

This invention describes the use of cytokine-antigen fusion proteins in serological assays in a sandwich ELISA format to increase sensitivity, specificity, and the linear quantification range.

Serological assays are used to identify immune responses to pathogens and all follow a conventional set-up: the antigen is used directly or coated/coupled on the