title: The use of Nanotrap particles in the enhanced detection of Rift Valley fever virus nucleoprotein.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a highly pathogenic arthropod-borne virus that has a detrimental effect on both livestock and human populations. While there are several diagnostic methodologies available for RVFV detection, many are not sensitive enough to diagnose early infections. Furthermore, detection may be hindered by high abundant proteins such as albumin. Previous findings have shown that Nanotrap particles can be used to significantly enhance detection of various small analytes of low abundance. We have expanded upon this repertoire to show that this simple and efficient sample preparation technology can drastically improve the detection of the RVFV nucleoprotein (NP), the most abundant and widely used viral protein for RVFV diagnostics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After screening multiple Nanotrap particle architectures, we found that one particle, NT45, was optimal for RVFV NP capture, as demonstrated by western blotting. NT45 significantly enhanced detection of the NP at levels undetectable without the technology. Importantly, we demonstrated that Nanotrap particles are capable of concentrating NP in a number of matrices, including infected cell lysates, viral supernatants, and animal sera. Specifically, NT45 enhanced detection of NP at various viral titers, multiplicity of infections, and time points. Our most dramatic results were observed in spiked serum samples, where high abundance serum proteins hindered detection of NP without Nanotrap particles. Nanotrap particles allowed for sample cleanup and subsequent detection of RVFV NP. Finally, we demonstrated that incubation of our samples with Nanotrap particles protects the NP from degradation over extended periods of time (up to 120 hours) and at elevated temperatures (at 37ºC).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that Nanotrap particles are capable of drastically lowering the limit of detection for RVFV NP by capturing, concentrating, and preserving RVFV NP in clinically relevant matrices. These studies can be extended to a wide range of pathogens and their analytes of diagnostic interest.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Nazly
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shafagati
authors.affiliation: National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lundberg
authors.affiliation: National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baer
authors.affiliation: Ceres Nanoscience, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patanarut
authors.affiliation: National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fite
authors.affiliation: Ceres Nanoscience, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lepene
authors.affiliation: National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, Virginia, United States of America.
authors.forename: Kylene
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kehn-Hall
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D006801:Humans; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D009698:Nucleoproteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012295:Rift Valley Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D012296:Rift Valley fever virus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D014709:Vero Cells; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009698:Nucleoproteins; D014764:Viral Proteins