Novel Antigen Improves Detection of Anti-Borrelia Antibodies

A recombinant antigen has been developed which greatly increases the specificity of anti-Borrelia antibody detection in the diagnosis of Lyme disease.

The dimeric outer surface protein C (OspC antigen) provides over 30% higher specificity than traditionally used monomeric forms, while maintaining a high sensitivity, especially in early stage infections.

Recombinant OspC has, for the first time, has been produced in dimeric form using state-of-the-art molecular biological methods. The dimeric OspC advanced antigen demonstrates the same characteristics as the native dimeric protein. Its exceptionally high specificity minimizes the risk of false-positive results and at the same time, it retains a high sensitivity.

Scientists at EUROIMMUN (Luebeck, Germany) have successfully produced recombinant, covalently bound dimeric OspC using genetic techniques which in contrast to native protein which is difficult to isolate, recombinant OspC advanced can be produced using standardized methods, ensuring a highly consistent antigen quality. The OspC advanced antigen improves the performance of both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and immunoblots for Borrelia diagnostics.

The Anti-Borrelia Select ELISA immunoglobulin M (IgM), which contains OspC advanced and other diagnostically relevant antigens in its antigenic substrate, provides exceptionally high sensitivity and specificity in the screening step for early-stage borreliosis. The confirmatory immunoblot Anti-Borrelia EUROLINE-RN-AT-adv (IgM), which includes OspC advanced from four different human pathogenic species, Borrelia afzelii, B. burgdorferi, B. garinii, and B. spielmanii, together with the outer surface protein of B. burgdorferi, known as VlsE, and other highly specific antigens, ensures accurate and reliable results in the confirmation of infections.

Antibodies against OspC are found in up to 90% of persons infected with Borrelia and represent the most important marker for early-stage borreliosis. Over 65,400 cases of Lyme borreliosis occur in Europe each year and over 27,000 cases were reported from the USA in 2012. The Anti-Borrelia Select ELISA and the Anti-Borrelia EUROLINE-RN-AT-adv are fast and easy to perform and can be fully automated, making them ideal for use in routine diagnostics.

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