Leading-edge research and diagnostic tools from Biosynth: helping scientists to combat emerging infectious diseases

Staad, Switzerland: – The latest blog from microbiology and organic fine biochemical specialist manufacturer and developer Biosynth AG highlights the increasing importance of antibodies and peptides in humanity’s fight against infectious diseases.

The article reminds readers of the devastation that can be wrought by pandemic infectious diseases as underlined by the notorious ‘Black Death’ Plague of 1346-53 that wiped out up to 60% of the population of Eurasia or the imported infections that had equally apocalyptic consequences for native populations in the Americas, Pacific and Australasia.

Preparing for the next pandemic infectious diseases still have the power to cause mass casualties and disrupt socioeconomic structures as underlined by the still current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and difficulties in containing epidemics of Monkeypox, Ebola and Zika virus.

“Evidently, the danger posed by infectious diseases should not be dismissed, and historical events can teach us important lessons. Scientists must be ready for the subsequent emerging infectious disease,” says Biosynth.

It points out that early diagnosis, testing, and rapid development of treatments or vaccine are the key weapons needed to combat epidemic infections and novel pathogens.

Antibodies and peptides as key weapons

“Antibodies and peptides are key to diagnosing and treating infectious diseases, whether they take the form of a detection or capture agent in an ELISA, a biomarker of interest or a key vaccine component,” the article notes.

Biosynth has an extensive catalog of antigens and antibodies for new emerging viruses and a whole host of infectious diseases. Its leading-edge research product portfolio comprising more than one million products has become a key resource for the in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) and therapeutics communities. Biosynth can provide custom antibodies and peptides in addition to antisera, buffers, ELISA kits and labelled antibodies including specific products potentially suitable for use in detection immunoassays, namely lateral flow and ELISA testing in patient diagnosis.

Spectrum of infections

The blog itemizes how the Biosynth catalog addresses the whole spectrum of infectious diseases, including:

• Viruses: Off the shelf antibodies can complement human antigens associated with viral entry and viral genome replication within a host cell, making them advantageous candidates for treatment, research, and IVD use against a spectrum of viral infections including mosquito borne viruses such as West Nile, Zika, Dengue, Yellow Fever and Chikungunya virus to Monkeypox, Influenza, Coronavirus, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) as well as infectious diseases such as Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, Varicella Zoster, and Rubella.
• HIV: As the causative agent for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has been a worldwide scourge since the early 1980s, with particularly devastating impacts in sub-Saharan Africa. Recent research has emphasized the role of the two key envelope glycoproteins gp41 and gp120 that facilitate the entry of HIV into T cells. These have assay applications in antibody and antigen-detecting assays: ELISA, western blot and lateral flow. In particular, gp41 can determine the type of infection to be an HIV-1 group M, O or HIV-2 virus when used in an ELISA assay. Biosynth Dublin has been supplying HIV reagents to the research community since 1988, with use of it HIV-1 gp120 polyclonal antibody (D7324-R) referenced in more than 100 international publications for its ability to detect presence of the HIV gp120 subunit in ELISA, automated immunoassays, western blot and lateral flow antigen detection assays.
• Bacteria: While most prokaryotic organisms exist as normal flora in hosts to maintain a stable environment, a few bacteria can cause infections by evading a host’s defense mechanisms and, in some cases, through the production of endotoxins. The main problem here is that many of the antibiotics developed over the past century to treat bacterial infections are losing efficacy to acquired resistance. Biosynth’s array of antimicrobial peptides provide the building blocks for research into post-antibiotic therapies (see Resources).
• Tetanus: The Clostridium tetani bacterium produces toxins, tetanospasmin and tetanolysin that can cause muscle spasms if these gram-positive bacteria, found in soil, animal feces or in dust, enters the human body through breakages in the skin. While the development of the tetanus vaccine, means much of the population has become immunized to tetanus, there is still a serious risk in cases where immunity is not present or lost. Biosynth’s monoclonal and polyclonal Tetanus toxin antibodies and tetanus toxin proteins are key resources in developing anti-tetanus diagnostics and treatments.
• Legionnaire’s disease: For research and diagnostic purposes, Biosynth also has monoclonal antibodies, antigens and proteins that can be used in research against the Legionella pneumophila bacteria that can infect building water supply and plumbing systems, causing serious epidemic disease risks.
• Chlamydia Trachomatis: This is one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide, leading to infertility, chronic pelvic pain, increased risk of ectopic pregnancy and transmission of eye and respiratory conditions in babies. Biosynth can also supply a variety of Chlamydia-specific research tools, including ELISA kits, biotin labeled antibodies, antigens, monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies.

Rapid response capability

The article observes that apart from its wide array of research tools, from antibodies, proteins and antigens, to ELISA kits, antisera, and buffers, Biosynth also has the adaptability and development capabilities needed to meet emerging demands, as demonstrated by its rapid roll out of SARS-CoV-2 research products during the COVID-19 pandemic, and its quick development of a monoclonal antibody (AZ1308) to screen and detect the deadly Nipah virus.

“The fight against infectious diseases is and always will be continuous. The health of our global population rests in the hands of scientific innovation and advancing technology. Biosynth recognizes the importance of this battle and strives to supply high quality raw materials to projects paving the way to combat infectious diseases,” it concludes.

About Biosynth

Biosynth is a supplier of critical materials, securing life science supply chains with global research, manufacturing, and distribution facilities. Supplying the pharmaceutical and diagnostic sectors; where Chemistry meets Biology, Products meet Services and Innovation meets Quality, Biosynth is at the Edge of Innovation.

With an unrivaled research product portfolio of over a million products and end-to-end manufacturing services, Biosynth’s expertise and capability spans Complex Chemicals, Peptides, and Key Biologics, all from one trusted partner.  Headquartered in Staad, Switzerland, Biosynth is owned amongst others by KKR, Ampersand Capital Partners, and management.

Find out more about Biosynth at www.biosynth.com

Resources

Click on Antibodies and Peptides in the Fight Against Infectious Diseases to read the full article.
Click on IVD Research Products for further information.
Click on Raw Materials for IVD  to learn more.
Click on Antimicrobial Peptides: Are they the Solution to Antibiotic Resistance?‘ for further reading.