Biography
Beata Gromadzka is a NaNoExpo Group Leader in University of Gdańsk, Poland. Specialist in recombinant vaccine technology and virus-like particles (VLP). She graduated Biotechnology at the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology – UG and MUG (major: molecular virology) and is an employee at the Laboratory for Recombinant Vaccines since 2003. Laureate of the 6th edition LIDER program of the National Centre for Research and Development. Author and co-author of 15 scientific papers, as well as 7 patents. International invited speaker in the field of influenza virus research.
Abstract
Background: Human norovirus (HuNoV) belonging to the Caliciviridae family is main causative agent of acute viral gastroenteritis worldwide. Traditionally used methods of norovirus detection include reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme immunoassays (EIA) which cannot be used in-field and require expensive equipment and reagents. Therefore, fast and reliable biosensing methods are strongly needed.rnHuNoV major capsid protein VP1 self assembles into VLPs (virus like particles) that have the same morphology and antigenicity as native virions without containing genetic material but provide excellent and safe platform for antigen presentation. In this work we report rapid, sensitive and selective biosensor based on antibody-modified long-period fiber grating LPFG for norovirus detection using VLPs.
Methods: Norovirus VLP were produced in Sf9 insect cells using baculovirus expression system, purified by ultracentrifugation and size exclusion chromatography. The LPFG sensor with anti-VP1 antibody immobilized on the surface was used for the detection of VLPs in solution.
Results: Utilization of antibody-modified LPFG for norovirus detection enabled obtaining rapid, sensitive and selective biosensor. In this label-free approach we were able to detect 1 ng/mL norovirus VLPs. Due to the morphological and antigen similarity between VLPs and native norovirus, LPFG biosensor can be used for fast norovirus detection.