Quantitative Serodiagnosis of Scrub Typhus Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering-Based Lateral Flow Assay Platforms

Anal Chem. 2019 Oct 1;91(19):12275-12282. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b02363. Epub 2019 Aug 12.

Abstract

A surface-enhanced Raman scattering-based lateral flow assay (SERS-LFA) technique has been developed for the rapid and accurate diagnosis of scrub typhus. Lateral flow kits for the detection of O. tsutsugamushi IgG (scrub typhus biomarker) were fabricated, and the calibration curve for various standard clinical sera concentrations were obtained by Raman measurements. The clinical sera titer values were determined by fitting the Raman data to the calibration curve. To assess the clinical feasibility of the proposed method, SERS-LFA assays were performed on 40 clinical samples. The results showed good agreement with those of the standard indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) method. SERS-LFA has many advantages over IFA including the less sample volume, simpler assay steps, shorter assay time, more systematic quantitative analysis, and longer assay lifetime. As SERS strips can be easily integrated with a miniaturized Raman spectrophotometer, field serodiagnosis is also more feasible.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Calibration
  • Cells, Immobilized
  • Equipment Design
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Orientia tsutsugamushi / genetics
  • Orientia tsutsugamushi / immunology
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Scrub Typhus / blood
  • Scrub Typhus / diagnosis*
  • Scrub Typhus / immunology
  • Serologic Tests / instrumentation*
  • Serologic Tests / methods*
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman / instrumentation*
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman / methods

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Recombinant Proteins