Method Article

A Bead-Based Multiplex Immunoassay to Identify Pathogen-Specific Antibodies in Saliva

July 8th, 2025

In This Article

Abstract

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Source: Augustine, S. A. J., et al. Developing a Salivary Antibody Multiplex Immunoassay to Measure Human Exposure to Environmental Pathogens. J. Vis. Exp. (2016).

This video demonstrates a bead-based multiplex immunoassay technique to simultaneously detect antibodies for multiple environmental pathogens in human saliva. Fluorescent beads were coupled to antigens from different pathogens, which were captured using antibodies in the human saliva sample. Upon labeling the antibodies using a fluorescent reporter, the beads were analyzed using flow cytometry to assess the presence of different pathogen-specific antibodies in the saliva.

Protocol

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1. Bead Coupling

  1. Couple the antigens to the bead sets using the concentrations shown in Table 1.
  2. Add each antigen to the activated beads and bring the total volume to 500 µl in 50 mM MES, pH 5.0. Mix the antigens and beads by vortex.
  3. Incubate the antigens and beads for 2 hr with mixing by rotation (~15 rpm) at room temperature in the dark. Pellet the coupled beads by microcentrifugation at 10,000 x g for 2 min.
  4. Remove the supernatant and resuspend the beads in 500 µl of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-bovine serum albumin (BSA)-polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (Tween-20)-sodium a....

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Disclosures

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No conflicts of interest declared.

Materials

List of materials used in this article
NameCompanyCatalog NumberComments
Equipment and Software
MicrocentrifugeThermo Electron Corporation75002446Used to centrifuge samples
Vortex MixerVWRG560Used to mix samples
Sonicator (mini)Fisher Scientific15-337-22Used to separate beads
Pipettors P10, P20, P100, P1000, 8 ch.CappVarious
Multiscreen Vacuum ManifoldMilliporeMSVMHTS00Used in washing steps to remove supernatant
MicroShakerVWR12620-926Used to agitate beads during incubations
Tube rack (1.5mL and 0.5mL) (assorted)VWR30128-346
Weighing ScaleMettler or otherUsed to measure wash reagents for making buffers
Dynabead Sample MixerInvitrogen947-01Used during coupling incubation step
MatLab (R2014b)The MathWorks, Inc.Used to analyze antibody response data
Microsoft Excel 2014Microsoft CorporationUsed to analyze antibody response data
Luminex Analyzer with xPonent 3.1 softwareLuminex CorporationLX200-XPON3.1Instrument and software used to run assay
Antigens
GI.1 Norwalk Virus : p-particleXi Jiang (CCHMC)*NA*Cincinnati Childrens' Hospital. Final conc. 5 µg.
GII.4 Norovirus VA387 : p-particleXi Jiang (CCHMC)*NA*Cincinnati Childrens' Hospital. Final conc. 5 µg.
Hepatitis A Virus : grade II concentrate from cell cultureMeridian Life Sciences8505Antigen coupled at 100 µg
Helicobacter pylori : lysateMeridian Life SciencesR14101Antigen coupled at 25 µg
Toxoplasma gondii : recombinant p30 (SAG1)Meridian Life SciencesR18426Antigen coupled at 25 µg
Campylobacter jejuni : heat killed whole cellsKPL50-92-93Antigen coupled at 50 µg
Primary Antibodies
Guinea pig anti-Norovirus(CCHMC)*NAUsed for coupling confirmation
Mouse anti-Hepatitis A IgGMeridian Life SciencesC65885MUsed for coupling confirmation
Mouse anti-Hepatitis A IgGMeridian Life SciencesC65885MUsed for coupling confirmation
BacTraceAffinity Purified Antibody to Helicobacter pyloriKPL01-93-94Used for coupling confirmation
Goat pAb to Toxoplasma gondiiAbcamAb23507Used for coupling confirmation
BacTrace Goat anti-Campylobacter speciesKPL01-92-93Used for coupling confirmation
Secondary Antibodies
Biotin-SP-Conjugated AffiniPure Donkey anti-Goat IgG (H+L)Jackson705-065-149Used for coupling confirmation
Biotinylated Rabbit anti-Goat IgG (H+L)KPL16-13-06Used for coupling confirmation
Biotinylated Goat anti-Mouse IgG (H+L)KPL16-18-06Used for coupling confirmation
Affinity Purified Antibody Biotin Labeled Goat anti-Rabbit IgG(H+L)KPL176-1506Used for coupling confirmation
Affinity Purified Antibody Biotin Labeled Goat anti-Human IgG(γ)KPL16-10-02Used for Salivary Immunoassay
Consumables
1.5 mL copolymer microcentrifuge tubesUSA Scientific1415-2500Used as low binding microcentrifuge tubes
10 µL pipette tip refillsBioVentures5030050C
200 µL pipette tip refillsBioVentures5030080C
1000 µL pipette tip refillsBioVentures5130140C
Aluminum foilVarious VendorsUsed keep beads in the dark during incubations
Deep Well platesVWR40002-009Used for diluting saliva samples
Multiscreen Filter PlatesMilliporeMABVN1250Used to run assays
Oracol saliva collection systemMalvern Medical Developments LimitedUsed for saliva collection
Reagents
Carboxylated microspheres (beads)Luminex CorporationDependent on bead setAntigens are coupled to the microspheres
EDC (1-ethyl-3-[3dimethylaminopropyl] carbodiimide hydrochloride)Pierce77149 or 22980Used in bead activation
Sulfo-NHS (N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide)Pierce24510Used in bead activation
Steptavidin-R-phycoerythrin (1mg/mL)Molecular ProbesS-866Used as reporter
MES (2-[N-Morpholino]ethanesulfonic acid)SigmaM-2933Used for coupling
Tween-20 (Polyoxyethylenesorbitan monolaurate)SigmaP-9416Used in wash buffer to remove non-specific binding
Protein Buffers
PBS-TBN Blocking/ Storage Buffer (PBS, 0.1% BSA, 0.02% Tween-20, 0.05% Azide, pH 7.4)**Filter Sterilize and store at 4°C
PBS, pH 7.4SigmaP-3813138 mM NaCl, 2.7 mM KCl
BSASigmaA-78880.1% (w/v)
Tween-20SigmaP-94160.2% (v/v)
Sodium Azide (0.05% azide)**SigmaS-8032**Caution: Sodium azide is acutely toxic. Avoid contact with skin and eyes. Wear appropriate PPE's. Dispose of according to applicable laws.
MES/ Coupling Buffer (0.05 M MES, pH 5.0)
MES (2-[N-Morpholino]ethanesulfonic acid)SigmaS-3139
5 N NaOHFisherSS256-500
Assay Buffer (PBS, 1% BSA, pH 7.4)Filter Sterilize and store at 4°C
PBS, 1% BSA, pH 7.4SigmaP-3688138 mM NaCl, 2.7 mM KCl, 1% BSA
Activation Buffer (0.1 M NaH2PO4, pH 6.2)Filter Sterilize and store at 4°C
NaH2PO4 (Sodium phosphate, monobasic anhydrous)SigmaS-31390.1M NaH2PO4
5 N NaOHFisherSS256-500
Wash Buffer (PBS, 0.05% Tween-20, pH 7.4)Filter Sterilize and store at 4°C
PBS, 0.05% Tween-20, pH 7.4SigmaP-3563138 mM NaCl, 2.7 mM KCl, 0.05% TWEEN

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Tags

Bead Based Multiplex ImmunoassayPathogen Specific AntibodiesSaliva Antibody DetectionFlow Cytometry AnalysisFluorescent Bead CouplingAntigen Antibody BindingBiotinylated Secondary AntibodiesStreptavidin Reporter DyeMicrosphere Fluorescence DetectionEnvironmental Pathogen Exposure

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