Media Elaborated with Newly Synthesized Antibodies (MENSA) and Uses Thereof

A method of isolating MENSA comprising obtaining whole blood or PBMC from a subject, separating plasma from the newly proliferated ASC obtained from the whole blood or PBMC, washing the newly proliferated ASC, and incubating the newly proliferated ASC in a media that supports maintenance of ASC and antibody secretion, wherein the washed ASC comprise at least a 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 103, 2×103, 3×103, 4×103, 5×103, 6×103, 7×103, 8×103, 9×103, 104, 105, 106, 107-fold reduction of contaminating pre-existing plasma antibodies relative to whole blood, plasma, or PBMC.

A method of detecting antigenic exposure or assessing the level of antigenic exposure in a subject following antigenic exposure comprising obtaining newly proliferated ASC from the subject between 3 and 45 days following antigenic exposure or during viral shedding, separating the plasma from the newly proliferated ASC, washing the newly proliferated ASC, incubating the newly proliferated ASC in a media that supports maintenance of ASC and antibody secretion, and measuring the number of antigen specific ASC or antibodies from the isolated newly proliferated ASC;

• wherein the washed ASC comprise at least a 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 103, 2×103, 3×103, 4×103, 5×103, 6×103, 7×103, 8×103, 9×103, 104, 105, 106, 107-fold reduction of contaminating pre-existing plasma antibodies relative to whole blood, plasma, or PBMC;
• and wherein the presence of ASC or antibodies specific for an antigen indicates recent antigenic exposure and the number of ASC or antibodies specific for an antigen indicates the level of antigenic exposure.

A method of assessing the efficacy of a vaccine in a subject comprising obtaining PBMC or whole blood from the subject between 3 and 45 days following administration of a vaccine, separating newly proliferated ASC from the plasma, washing the newly proliferated ASC, culturing the newly proliferated ASC in media conducive to antibody production and expression (MENSA), measuring the number of vaccine specific antibody secreting cells (ASC) or antibodies in the MENSA, and comparing the number of ASC or antibodies to a standard or control, wherein the washed ASC comprise at least a 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 103, 2×103, 3×103, 4×103, 5×103, 6×103, 7×103, 8×103, 9×103, 104, 105, 106, 107-fold reduction of contaminating pre-existing plasma antibodies relative to whole blood, plasma, or PBMC, and wherein an increase of vaccine specific ASC or antibodies in the MENSA relative to a standard or control indicates an efficacious vaccine.

A method for separating pre-existing antibodies from antibodies derived from prior antigenic exposure comprising obtaining newly proliferated ASC from whole blood or PBMC, separating the newly proliferated ASC from the plasma, washing the newly proliferated ASC, and incubating the newly proliferated ASC in a media for stimulating antibody production in the ASC;

• wherein the proliferated ASC comprise at least a 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 103, 2×103, 3×103, 4×103, 5×103, 6×103, 7×103, 8×103, 9×103, 104, 105, 106, 107-fold reduction of contaminating pre-existing plasma antibodies relative to whole blood, plasma, or PBMC.

A kit for diagnosing the presence of a disease or exposure to an antigen in a subject comprising one or more reagents to obtain whole blood or PBMC, one or more reagents to separate newly proliferated ASC from plasma, media to incubate the newly proliferated ASC, one or more antigens, and one or more reagents for detecting the presence of antibodies secreted by the newly proliferated ASC.

A method of diagnosing the presence of a disease or exposure to an antigen in a subject comprising obtaining whole blood or PBMC from the subject between 3 and 45 days following antigenic exposure or during viral shedding, separating newly proliferated ASC from the plasma, washing the newly proliferated ASC, and measuring the number of newly proliferated ASC or antibodies from the newly proliferated ASC specific for an antigen;

• wherein the washed ASC comprise at least a 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 103, 2×103, 3×103, 4×103, 5×103, 6×103, 7×103, 8×103, 9×103, 104, 105, 106, 107-fold reduction of contaminating pre-existing plasma antibodies relative to whole blood, plasma, or PBMC;
• wherein the presence of ASC or antibodies specific for the antigen indicates the subject as an ongoing infection with the source of the antigen.