title: Statistical approach to estimate vaccinia-specific neutralizing antibody titers using a high-throughput assay.
abstract: Because of the bioterrorism threat posed by agents such as variola virus, considerable time, resources, and effort have been devoted to biodefense preparation. One avenue of this research has been the development of rapid, sensitive, high-throughput assays to validate immune responses to poxviruses. Here we describe the adaptation of a beta-galactosidase reporter-based vaccinia virus neutralization assay to large-scale use in a study that included over 1,000 subjects. We also describe the statistical methods involved in analyzing the large quantity of data generated. The assay and its associated methods should prove useful tools in monitoring immune responses to next-generation smallpox vaccines, studying poxvirus immunity, and evaluating therapeutic agents such as vaccinia virus immune globulin.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Vaccine Research Group, Mayo Clinic, Guggenheim 611C, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: V Shane
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Pankratz
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Swanson
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Hana
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Golding
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Poland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009500:Neutralization Tests / Q000379:methods*; D012900:Smallpox Vaccine / Q000276:immunology*; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D012900:Smallpox Vaccine