Label-Free Detection and Characterization of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT)-like Antibodies

The Binding of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein to Platelet Factor 4: A Proposed Mechanism for the Generation of Pathogenic Antibodies

Pathogenic platelet factor 4 (PF4) antibodies contributed to the abnormal coagulation profiles in COVID-19 and vaccinated patients. However, the mechanism of what triggers the body to produce these antibodies has not yet been clarified. Similar patterns and many comparable features between the COVID-19 virus and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) have been reported. Previously, we identified a new mechanism of autoimmunity in HIT in which PF4-antibodies self-clustered PF4 and exposed binding epitopes for other pathogenic PF4/eparin antibodies. Here, we first proved that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (SP) also binds to PF4. The binding was evidenced by the increase in mass and optical intensity as observed through quartz crystal microbalance and immunosorbent assay, while the switching of the surface zeta potential caused by protein interactions and binding affinity of PF4-SP were evaluated by dynamic light scattering and isothermal spectral shift analysis. Based on our results, we proposed a mechanism for the generation of PF4 antibodies in COVID-19 patients. We further validated the changes in zeta potential and interaction affinity between PF4 and SP and found that their binding mechanism differs from ACE2-SP binding. Importantly, the PF4/SP complexes facilitate the binding of anti-PF4/Heparin antibodies. Our findings offer a fresh perspective on PF4 engagement with the SARS-CoV-2 SP, illuminating the role of PF4/SP complexes in severe thrombotic events.

Nanodiamond conjugated SARS-CoV-2 spike protein: electrochemical impedance immunosensing on a gold microelectrode

A promising immunosensing strategy in diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 is proposed using a 10-µm gap-sized gold interdigitated electrode (AuIDE) to target the surface spike protein (SP). The microelectrode surface was modified by (3-glycidyloxypropyl) trimethoxysilane to enforce the epoxy matrix, which facilitates the immobilization of the anti-SP antibody. The immunosensing performance was evaluated by integrating a nanosized (~ 10 nm) diamond-complexed SP as a target. The proposed immunoassay was quantitatively evaluated through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) with the swept frequency from 0.1 to 1 MHz using a 100 mV_RMS AC voltage supply. The immunoassay performed without diamond integration showed low sensitivity, with the lowest SP concentration measured at 1 pM at a determination coefficient of R² = 0.9681. In contrast, the nanodiamond-conjugated SP on the immunosensor showed excellent sensitivity with a determination coefficient of R² = 0.986. SP detection with a nanodiamond-conjugated target on AuIDE reached the low limit of detection at 189 fM in a linear detection range from 250 to 8000 fM. The specificity of the developed immunosensor was evaluated by interacting influenza-hemagglutinin and SARS-CoV-2-nucleocapsid protein with anti-SP. In addition, the authentic interaction of SP and anti-SP was validated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.