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Lyophilisation of lentiviral pseudotypes for the development and distribution of virus neutralisation assay kits for rabies, Marburg and influenza viruses

Mather, Stuart, Wright, Edward, Scott, Simon D., Temperton, Nigel J. (2014) Lyophilisation of lentiviral pseudotypes for the development and distribution of virus neutralisation assay kits for rabies, Marburg and influenza viruses. In: International Meeting on Emerging Diseases and Surveillance (IMED 2014), 31 Oct - 03 Nov 2014, Vienna, Austria. (doi:Poster 23.074) (KAR id:43722)

Abstract

Purpose: Some conventional serological assays can accurately quantify neutralising antibody responses raised against epitopes on virus glycoproteins, enabling mass vaccine evaluation and serosurveillance studies to take place. However, these assays often necessitate the handling of wild-type virus in expensive high biosafety laboratories, which restricts the scope of their application, particularly in resource-deprived areas. A solution to this issue is the use of lentiviral pseudotype viruses (PVs)—chimeric, replication-deficient virions that imitate the binding and entry mechanisms of their wild-type equivalents. Pseudotype virus neutralisation assays (PVNAs) bypass high biosafety requirements and yield comparable results to established assays. This study explores the potential for using lyophilisation of pseudotypes as a cost-effective, alternative means for production, distribution and storage of a PVNAbased diagnostic kit. Methods & Materials: Rabies, Marburg and H5 subtype Influenza virus pseudotypes were each suspended in cryoprotectant solutions of various molarities and subjected to freeze-drying before incubation at a variety of temperatures, humidities and time periods. Samples were then employed in antibody neutralisation assays using specific sera. Results: High levels of PV titre were retained post-lyophilisation, with acceptable levels of virus activity maintained even after medium-term storage in tropical conditions. Also, the performance of PVs in neutralisation assays was not affected by the lyophilisation process. Conclusion: These results confirm the viability of a freeze-dried PVNA-based diagnostic kit, which could considerably facilitate in-field serology for a number of clinically important viruses.

Item Type: Conference or workshop item (Poster)
DOI/Identification number: Poster 23.074
Subjects: Q Science > QR Microbiology > QR355 Virology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Medway School of Pharmacy
Depositing User: Nigel Temperton
Date Deposited: 27 Oct 2014 13:07 UTC
Last Modified: 09 Dec 2022 04:54 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/43722 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Mather, Stuart.

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Scott, Simon D..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8290-0461
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Temperton, Nigel J..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7978-3815
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