Avidin-based detection

About

Background: Researchers at Stanford and L'Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale (INSERM) have developed a rapid, inexpensive, sensitive and specific clinical blood test for characterizing and quantifying allergic reactions. An allergy is an immunological disorder characterized by an abnormal or increased sensitivity to something (e.g., allergens derived from foods or medicines, or airborne allergens such as pollen or house dust mites) that should not cause any reaction. Allergic reactions can develop rapidly and can be life threatening. Basophils are multifunctional effector cells involved in allergic reactions. Currently, basophil activation tests (BATs) are used to diagnose allergic reactions or the potential to develop an allergic reaction on exposure to the offending allergen. However, conventional BATs can provide inaccurate results and thus are not optimal. This new method uses avidin-based detection of activated basophils present in the whole blood of patients as a marker of ongoing/recent allergic reactions, or to quantify basophil activation in response to exposure to allergens ex vivo. The new avidin-based method is easier, quicker, more specific, more sensitive and less expensive than existing BATs. In addition, when used to analyze basophils exposed to potential allergens ex vivo, it may also be used to determine the likelihood of a person developing a serious allergic reaction if exposed to such allergens in vivo. This technology provides a much needed rapid diagnostic tool to enable quick detection and assessment of the severity of allergic reactions. Stage of research: Initial validation tests show great promise. Additional validation testing is ongoing.   Applications:   Diagnostic blood test for allergies Test to measure the risk for developing allergic reactions Screening tool for development of new therapeutics to treat allergies   Advantages:   More sensitive and specific than existing BATs Rapid diagnostic tool- enables quick detection and assessment of severity of allergic reactions Requires only small numbers of cells Easy Inexpensive Blood-based test Not painful Stable reaction- test can be shipped   Publications:   Kaori Mukai, R. Sharon Chinthrajah, Kari C. Nadeau, Mindy Tsai, Nicolas Gaudenzio, and Stephen J. Galli, "A new fluorescent-avidin-based method for quantifying basophil activation in the whole blood," Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, published online June 9, 2017.