Single molecule detection of parasite glycoconjugates

Many of the established diagnostic assays for parasitic infections such as schistosomiasis and lymphatic filariasis rely on antibody recognition of the glycan moieties of parasite-specific antigens. As the control programs for these parasitic diseases move towards elimination in some countries, there becomes a greater need for high sensitivity diagnostic assays to detect low-level infections in individuals that facilitate detection of a single positive amongst a pool of multiple patient samples. We develop highly sensitive assays to detect parasite-derived glycoconjugates in body fluids and contaminated water using a digital ELISA platform that provides single-molecule detection and quantification. We can achieve limits of detection that are several log orders below those obtained by traditional ELISA assays.

 

Digital ELISA for single molecule detection of parasite antigens.