- Wednesday, May 13, 2020 @ 10:00 am
Creoptix has a proven track record in biomolecular interactions and kinetic analysis in particular. By granting Prof. Aguzzi and his team from the University of Zurich access to their expertise and technology, they aim to find answers to the most pressing questions related to the immunological response of patients to SARS-CoV-2.
Creoptix AG, a Switzerland-based company focused on next-generation bioanalytical instruments, announced today its collaboration with Adriano Aguzzi, Professor for Neuropathology, University of Zurich, to characterize immunological responses to SARS-CoV-2 such as IgA, IgM and IgG antibodies, which signal whether an individual has been exposed to the Coronavirus.
Prof. Adriano Aguzzi and his team want to understand who has already been infected with SARS-CoV-2 and might be therefore immune. To identify these antibodies in blood samples, the Creoptix WAVEsystem – an extremely sensitive label-free, bioanalytical instrument that enables antibody detection in even pure serum or plasma – will be used.
Line Stigen Raquet, CEO of Creoptix, commented: “The threat posed by COVID-19 demands immediate actions to better understand the mechanisms of this virus in humans. We at Creoptix are tremendously excited and proud to support the efforts of Prof. Aguzzi and his team, who are working on the front lines. We are committed to enabling hospitals and clinical researchers with high performance solutions to characterize binding affinity and kinetics of antibodies on SARS-CoV-2 in conditions closer to real-life. The WAVEsystem’s combination of sensitivity and robustness may prove crucial in shedding light on antibody binding in serum and plasma.”
Creoptix is on a quest to accelerate diagnostics research and help understand immune responses against SARS-CoV-2. “We are fascinated by the idea that our technology could provide new insights in serological testing, guidance in the response to the pandemic and protection of the public’s health,” Line Stigen Raquet explained.
Prof. Adriano Aguzzi, added: “Antibodies are formidable weapons against viruses, and that’s the basis of all vaccines. However, antibodies can also facilitate the entry of viruses into cells, thereby causing friendly fire. One determinant of such behaviors is the affinity of antibodies for their targets. In collaboration with Creoptix, we strive to determine the affinity of antisera from COVID-19 patients for their targets. We hope that such investigation may help understand why some patients recover fully from COVID-19 whereas others develop lethal disease.”
