Serolomics Lab
High-Throughput Serolomics Open Lab
sponsored by the Dieter Morszeck Stiftung
Establishment of a high-throughput multiplex serology workflow for COVID-19 and cancer
Multiplex serology is a bead suspension-based array technology that enables the detection of antibody responses against up to 100 different antigens per reaction. However, the established manual workflow is limited in terms of the number of samples that can be processed.
To overcome this challenge, we are currently taking the multiplex serology workflow to the next level, by establishing a semi-automated high-throughput workflow. Using the KingFisher™ Flex for automated coupling and loading of magnetic Luminex beads, a Biomek i7 liquid-handling workstation, and a FLEXMAP 3D® for fast readout, we enable an efficient and automated multiplex serology workflow with improved performance characteristics. Signal detection is overseen by an online monitoring tool that tracks and reports crucial assay parameters.
In the near future, this will allow the high-throughput analysis of entire cohort studies comprising tens to hundreds of thousands of serum samples. Currently, our focus is on investigating SARS-CoV-2 infections and Long COVID, and the secondary prevention of infection-associated cancers.
Figure: Implementation of an automated multiplex serology workflow.
1. Butt J, Murugan R, Hippchen T, Olberg S, van Straaten M, Wardemann H, Stebbins E, Kräusslich HG, Bartenschlager R, Brenner H, Laketa V, Schöttker B, Müller B, Merle U, Waterboer T. From Multiplex Serology to Serolomics-A Novel Approach to the Antibody Response against the SARS-CoV-2 Proteome. Viruses. 2021 Apr 24;13(5):749.
2. Seeßle J, Waterboer T, Hippchen T, Simon J, Kirchner M, Lim A, Müller B, Merle U. Persistent symptoms in adult patients one year after COVID-19: a prospective cohort study. Clin Infect Dis. 2021 Jul 5:ciab611.
3. Stich M, Elling R, Renk H, Janda A, Garbade SF, Müller B, Kräusslich HG, Fabricius D, Zernickel M, Meissner P, Huzly D, Grulich-Henn J, Haddad A, Görne T, Spielberger B, Fritsch L, Nieters A, Hengel H, Dietz AN, Stamminger T, Ganzenmueller T, Ruetalo N, Peter A, Remppis J, Iftner T, Jeltsch K, Waterboer T, Franz AR, Hoffmann GF, Engel C, Debatin KM, Tönshoff B, Henneke P. Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Households with Children, Southwest Germany, May-August 2020. Emerg Infect Dis. 2021 Dec;27(12):3009-3019.
4. Jeske R, Merle U, Müller B, Waterboer T, Butt J. Performance of Dried Blood Spot Samples in SARS-CoV-2 Serolomics. Microorganisms. 2022 Jun 29;10(7):1311.
5. Stich M, Benning L, Speer C, Garbade SF, Bartenschlager M, Kim H, Gleich F, Jeltsch K, Haase B, Janda A, Renk H, Elling R, Schnitzler P, Waterboer T, Hoffmann GF, Kräusslich HG, Müller B, Bartenschlager R, Tönshoff B. Waning Immunity 14 Months After SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Pediatrics. 2022 Nov 1;150(5):e2022057151.
6. Loría V, Aparicio A, Hildesheim A, Cortés B, Sun K , Ocampo R, Prevots R, Zúñiga M, Moreno K, Waterboer T, Wong R, Morera M, Butt J, Binder M, Abdelnour A, Calderón A, Gail M, Pfeiffer R, Barboza C, Fantin R, Vanegas JC, Ávila C, Porras C, Herrero R. Cohort profile: Evaluation of immune response and household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Costa Rica: The RESPIRA Study (submitted)