US 2007/0190585 A1 · ANTIBODY PROFILING SENSITIVITY THROUGH INCREASED REPORTER ANTIBODY LAYERING

Abstract

A method is disclosed for analyzing a biological sample by antibody profiling for identifying forensic samples or for detecting the presence of an analyte. In an embodiment of the invention, the analyte is a drug, such as marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, methyltestosterone, or mesterolone. The method comprises attaching antigens to the surface of a solid support in a preselected pattern to form an array wherein the locations of the antigens are known; contacting the array with the biological sample such that a portion of antibodies in the sample reacts with and binds to antigens in the array to form immune complexes; washing away antibodies that do form immune complexes; and detecting the immune complexes, to form an antibody profile. Forensic samples are identified by comparing a sample from an unknown source with a sample from a known source. Further, an assay, such as a test for illegal drug use, can be coupled to a test for identity such that the results of the assay can be positively correlated to the subject's identity.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A method for analyzing biological material comprising individual-specific antibodies, the method comprising:

forming an array comprising multiple antigens attached to a surface of a solid support in a preselected location pattern;
obtaining a sample of a biological material having individual-specific antibodies and contacting the array with the sample to bind at least a portion of the individual-specific antibodies to the multiple antigens of the array, to form immune complexes;
washing the array containing the immune complexes;
detecting the immune complexes by the application to the array of at least three separate antibodies;
and
identifying the immune complexes on the array, to obtain an antibody profile.

3 more elements

A method for detecting a selected drug in a biological sample comprising individual specific antibodies and identifying a source of the biological sample, the method comprising:

immobilizing multiple antigens in a pre-selected pattern on a solid support;
immobilizing a detectable amount of a selected drug on the solid support, to form an array;
providing an antibody-enzyme conjugate comprising an antibody configured to bind the selected drug and an enzyme that is capable of converting a colorigenic substrate into a colored product;
contacting the array with a biological sample, to bind at least some of the multiple antigens with individual specific antibodies in the biological sample, to form immune complexes;
contacting the array with the antibody-enzyme conjugate, wherein the antibody-enzyme conjugate competitively binds to (i) the selected drug immobilized on the array, to form an immobilized antibody-enzyme conjugate, and (ii) any selected drug that may be present in the biological sample, to form a soluble drug-antibody-enzyme conjugate;
washing the solid support, to remove at least the soluble drug-antibody-enzyme complexes;
contacting the solid support with a colorigenic substrate to convert the colorigenic substrate to a colored product using the immobilized antibody-enzyme conjugate;
determining an amount of the colored product present, wherein the amount of the colored product is correlated with an amount of the selected drug in the biological sample;
and
detecting the immune complexes immobilized on the solid support by the application to the solid support of at least three separate antibodies to form an antibody profile characteristic of the source of the biological sample.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Antibody profiling sensitivity through increased reporter antibody layering

Life of this patent

Antibody profiling sensitivity through increased reporter antibody layering

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28