Immune testing for Coronavirus created by researchers in Västerbotten

Novel Coronavirus SARS CoV 2 NIH lr

[2020-04-15] Researchers at Umeå University and Norrland University Hospital have developed an antibody test for the new Corona virus

People who were once infected with the coronavirus also become immune to re-infection. By using tests that measure whether the body's immune system has reacted to the coronavirus, it is possible to identify people who are resistant to the infection. This is of particular importance for staff working in healthcare or working with risk groups, but also to determine so-called flock immunity, when enough people are immune to the spread of the virus.

On initiative of University Lecturer Mattias Forsell and through collaboration between researchers at Umeå University and the University Hospital in Umeå, a test has been developed in a short time, which could show immunity to coronavirus.

Forsell Mattias 9478 190516 MPN lr- The test is a variant of a "classic" immunological method for measuring antiviral antibodies in blood. We teach this method already in the third semester of the Biomedical Analyst Program at Umeå University, says Mattias Forsell.

The fact that the test could be developed in less than a month is thanks to the great willingness to cooperate and extensive expertise that exists within the Faculty of Medicine at Umeå University. In Umeå, there are experts on viral proteins, immunologists, microbial infection mechanisms, and antibody reactions, who work on the same campus as clinical researchers.

In addition to Mattias Forsell, the research groups of Anna Överby Wernstedt, Andrea Puhar, Felipe Cava, Daniel Marcellino and Magnus Evander have been involved.

Ebba Rosendal lrThe test utilizes the body's immune system to develop antibodies against the virus's protein to fight the infection. These antibodies are found in the body long after the virus has disappeared. By producing specific viral protein, one can then use these proteins to detect if a person has antibodies to e.g. SARS-Cov-2 causing Covid-19.

- We can now demonstrate whether a person has developed antibodies that specifically bind to the SARS-Cov-2 virus' surface proteins, spike proteins,  and that could potentially block the virus from infecting new cells, explains Mattias Forsell.

Together with colleagues and virologists Anna Överby Wernstedt and Magnus Evander, it was investigated whether the antibodies really harm the virus.

- We have now set up methods with live viruses and today we got answers that show that antibodies from Covid-19 patients can really block the virus from infecting new cells, says Anna Överby Wernstedt.

Clas Ahlm, research and education director in the Västerbotten region, sees the importance of antibody testing:

- The method is valuable to us in order to be able to in future investigate the immunity of, among other things. health care personnel say Clas Ahlm.

Contact persons:

Mattias Forsell, Lecturer at the Department of Clinical Microbiology, Unit for infection and immunology, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.phone: +46 (0)90-785-3208

Clas Ahlm, professor, senior consultant, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Director for Research and Education at Region Västerbotten, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Other scientists who have been involved in the study:

Felipe Cava, Lecturer, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Magnus Evander, professor, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Anna Överby Wernstedt, Lecturer, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Department of Clinical Microbiology, Unit for Virology, Umeå University, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Andrea Puhar, forskare, Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), The Laboratory for Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden (MIMS), Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Daniel Marcellino, Researcher, Department of Integrative Medical Biosciences (IMB), Umeå University, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Julia Wigren Byström, Biomedical Analyst, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Umeå University, jThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Pictures:
Top: Part of EM picture of SARS-CoV-2 by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases-Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIH, USA
Middle left: Mattias Forsell, picture by Mattias Pettersson
Middle right: Ebba Rosendal, PhD student, Department of Clinical Microbiology, is looking at antiboddy test plates, picture by Emil Byström

 

See reports in Swedish media about the new Corona Test: