Autoimmunity and serology profiling

The Autoimmunity and serology profiling unit provides infrastructure and technologies for analysis of the autoantibody repertoire in body fluids and antibody validation using custom designed protein and peptide arrays.

Supported by the resource of more than 42 000 unique human protein fragments generated within the Human Protein Atlas, representing more than 18 000 human protein coding genes, we offer proteome wide screening for autoantibody reactivity on large microarrays, as well as downstream solutions for investigation of autoantibody repertoires in hundreds of patient samples in parallel. Instrumentation and know-how is available for generating customized spotted protein microarrays as well as measurement and analysis of commercially available protein microarrays.

NEWS

• The unit is soon set to increase its services in serology by incorporating a multi-disease serology panel into its offerings. This panel includes a wide range of different variants of the SARS-CoV-2 proteins, spike representations of SARS, MERS, and antigen representations of the four coronaviruses causing common cold. It will additionally include influenza virus antigens representing the glycoproteins hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, as well as antigen representations of RSV, Mpox, adenovirus, metapneumovirus, and parainfluenza virus. A full list of the currently included antigens and further information on the project can be found at the Multi-disease serology dashboard at the Swedish Pathogens Portal.
• The main lab have gone through a reconstruction to reach bio safety level 2 standard which enable a higher throughput of biological samples requiring a higher level of safety.
• A new array comprising of the secretome have been developed and is now available for the users of the unit.
• Several SARS-CoV-2-related articles which the unit have been involved in have been published and can be accessed through the publication database.  
• During the pandemic the unit performed serology testing for SARS-CoV-2 on nearly 260 000 samples. More information is available at the Swedish Pathogens Portal
• The unit presented some of its work as part of the webinar series organised by Arrayjet Ltd, the complete list of webinars to date can be viewed here: Arrayjet microarray webinar series.
• A new microarrayer, Arrayjet Super Marathon with JetMosphere Max™, was installed in July 2019 to allow more efficient and accurate printing under highly controlled environmental conditions.
  

SERVICES

• Autoantibody profiling
• Epitope mapping
• Antibody validation
• Infrastructure for commercial protein arrays
• SARS-CoV-2 serology
• Coming soon: Multi-disease Serology

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Proposed projects are assessed and prioritized according to the following model.

1) Initial assessment by unit:

• Technical feasibility and suitability
• Required capacity and resources for the project

2) Project prioritization by committee:

• Scientific potential
• Supporting preliminary data
• Significance of unit specific technique for project
• Supports unit development (competence and techniques)

APPLICATIONS

• Profiling the autoantibody repertoire in plasma, serum or CSF by screening on microarrays of randomly selected antigens.
• Verification of autoantibody profiles on suspension bead arrays with selected antigens.
• Epitope mapping and off-target analysis of affinity reagents as well as identified autoantibodies on antigen or peptide microarrays.
• Infrastructure and know-how to analyze commercial protein arrays such as ProtoArray (ThermoFisher (discontinued)), HuProt (available from Cambridge Protein Arrays), i-Ome (Sengenics), and peptide arrays from PEPperPRINT and JPT.
• High-throughput SARS-CoV-2 serology screening for antibodies towards SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins in human serum/plasma

EQUIPMENT

• Access to affinity reagents and high density arrays.
  • 42 100 mass spectrometry validated antigens (protein fragments) from the Human Protein Atlas project.
  • High density antigen array containing 42 100 protein fragments from the Human Protein Atlas
• Liquid-handling: Tecan FLUENT, 2x Tecan EVO150, CyBio® SELMA.
• Microarray printer: Arrayjet Super Marathon with JetMosphere Max™ controlled environment.
• Microarray scanner: Innopsys InnoScan 1100 AL 3-channel ultra-high resolution.
• Bead array instruments: 4x FLEXMAP 3D and 1x MAGPIX, all from Luminex®.
• Plate washer: 2x Biotek EL406.

USING THE FACILITY

Please fill in the Project proposal form and we will come back to you shortly after to further discuss the details of your request. However, we strongly recommend that the National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden, NBIS, is contacted for a free consultation or drop-in session prior to filling in a project proposal.