News Fluorescence-Based Polarization Immunoassays as a Frontline Test for the Rapid Detection of Acute and Late Phase Lyme-Borreliosis Disease

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Abstract
Lyme borreliosis (LB) is a tick-borne disease caused by a diverse and expanding group of spirochetes characterized by complex biology and advanced immune evasion mechanisms. It presents a wide range of clinical symptoms affecting multiple organ systems and can lead to persistent complications. The pathogenesis of LB remains incompletely understood, and diagnosis typically relies on serologic assays to detect antibodies against LB. However, the standard two-tiered testing (STTT) algorithm is limited by cross-reactivity, low sensitivity, and delayed results, hindering timely and accurate diagnosis. Although molecular tests are considered the gold standard, their reliance on centralized laboratories can delay critical treatment decisions. This underscores the urgent need for rapid, reliable diagnostic tools, particularly for use at the point of hospital admission. Point-of-care serological and direct antigen testing can provide actionable information, supporting decentralized healthcare systems in diagnosing complex diseases, such as LB. In this study, we developed two fluorescent polarization immunoassays (FPIAs) using IgM and IgG LB-specific synthetic epitopes/peptides to evaluate their diagnostic potential. These FPIAs showed high sensitivity and specificity in detecting IgM or IgG anti-LB antibodies in patient sera within minutes. The fluorescently labeled synthetic peptides produced significant polarization differences between infected and healthy samples, allowing clear discrimination. The FPIA-LB functions as a one-step assay, eliminating the need for secondary antibodies or complex protocols. This work highlights the FPIA technique as a robust, rapid, and efficient tool for LB diagnosis, offering a promising advance in improving early detection and patient outcomes, which could save lives and reduce long-term health complications.
Funding Information
  • Brazilian Council for Scientific Research (30515- 2020-5)
  • Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation of Research Support of the State of Rio de Janeiro (200.960-2022)
  • National Institutes of Science and Technology Program (210.003/2018)

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