Immunofluorescence assay for detection of the nucleocapsid antigen of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus in cells derived from throat wash samples of patients with SARS.
An antigen detection assay for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus was established in this study by an indirect immunofluorescence test, which utilized cells derived from throat wash samples of patients with SARS and a rabbit serum that recognized the nucleocapsid protein of SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) but not that of other human coronavirus tested. It detected SARS-CoV in 11 of 17 (65%) samples from SARS patients as early as day 2 of illness but in none of the 10 samples from healthy controls. Compared with other diagnostic modalities for detecting SARS-CoV, this assay is simpler, more convenient, and economical. It could be an alternative for early and rapid diagnosis, should SARS return in the future.
Liu
I-Jung
IJ
Insititute of Microbiology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chen
Pei-Jer
PJ
Yeh
Shiou-Hwei
SH
Chiang
Yu-Ping
YP
Huang
Li-Min
LM
Chang
Ming-Fu
MF
Chen
Shey-Ying
SY
Yang
Pan-Chyr
PC
Chang
Shan-Chwen
SC
Wang
Wei-Kung
WK
D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D019251:Nucleocapsid / Q000032:analysis*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology
D000956:Antigens, Viral