LIPS method for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies to spike and nucleocapsid proteins

Eur J Immunol. 2020 Aug;50(8):1234-1236. doi: 10.1002/eji.202048715. Epub 2020 Jul 6.

Abstract

Profiling antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 can help to assess potential immune response after COVID-19 disease. Luciferase IP system (LIPS) assay is a sensitive method for quantitative detection of antibodies to antigens in their native conformation. We here describe LIPS to detect antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins in COVID-19 patients. The antibodies targeted both S and N fragments and gave a high assay sensitivity by identifying 26 out of 26 COVID-19 patients with N antigen or with three protein fragments when combined into a single reaction. The assay correlated well with ELISA method and was specific to COVID-19 as we saw no reactivity among uninfected healthy controls. Our results show that LIPS is a rapid and measurable method to screen antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 antigens.

Keywords: COVID-19; LIPS; SARS-CoV-2; antibodies; luciferase immunoprecipitation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibodies, Viral* / blood
  • Antibodies, Viral* / immunology
  • Betacoronavirus* / immunology
  • Betacoronavirus* / metabolism
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections* / blood
  • Coronavirus Infections* / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nucleocapsid Proteins* / immunology
  • Nucleocapsid Proteins* / metabolism
  • Pandemics*
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / blood
  • Pneumonia, Viral* / immunology
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Nucleocapsid Proteins