High-throughput multiplexed serology via the mass-spectrometric analysis of isotopically barcoded beads
In serology, each sample is typically tested individually, one antigen at a time. This is costly and time consuming. Serology techniques should ideally allow recurrent measurements in parallel in small sample volumes and be inexpensive and fast. Here we show that mass cytometry can be used to scale up multiplexed serology testing by leveraging polystyrene beads uniformly loaded with combinations of stable isotopes. We generated 18,480 unique isotopically barcoded beads to simultaneously detect, in a single tube with 924 serum samples, the levels of immunoglobulins G and M against 19 proteins from SARS-CoV-2 (a total of 36,960 tests in 400 nl of sample volume and 30 μl of reaction volume). As a rapid, high-throughput and cost-effective technique, serology by mass cytometry may contribute to the effective management of public health emergencies originating from infectious diseases.
Authors
- Xavier Rovira‐Clavé (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9994-7007)
- Noah Brazer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4270-894X)
- J. Daniel Kelly (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-8410-6069)
- Eugene T Richardson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8437-0671)
- Jeffrey N. Martin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9773-3256)
- Edwin C. Frias (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7058-2240)
- Antonio Delgado‐González (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4760-8174)
- Alexandros P. Drainas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9081-9850)
- Garry P. Nolan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8862-9043)
- Tho D. Pham (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5900-0289)
- Angelica Trejo
- Charles Y. Chiu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2915-2094)
- Alec E. Dallas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1430-1467)
- John C. Prostko
- Michael J. Peluso (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0585-6230)
- Jesus Pineda-Ramirez
- Guolan Lu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5023-3465)
- John W. Hickey (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9961-7673)
- Maria Angulo‐Ibáñez
- Khamal Anglin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1801-5345)
- David R. McIlwain (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2537-0273)
- Scott D. Boyd (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0963-044X)
- Julien Sage (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8928-9968)
- Oliver F. Wirz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0377-6464)
- Scott Lu
- Maya Baron
- Theresa P. Chu
- Venice Servellita (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1745-4012)
- Yunhao Bai (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2106-9747)
Institutions
- Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
- San Francisco VA Medical Center (US)
- University of Nevada, Reno (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- Duke University (US)
- University of California, San Francisco (US)
- San Francisco Foundation (US)
- University of California System (US)
- Stanford Blood Center (US)
- Stanford Medicine (US)
- Abbott Fund (US)
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (ES)
- Global Brain Health Institute (US)
- Harvard Global Health Institute (US)
- Stanford University (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Biomedical Engineering
- Published
- 2025-02-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-025-01349-0
- Citations
- 5
- Primary Topic
- Molecular Biology Techniques and Applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 4.03
Funders
- Abbott Laboratories
- Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program
- Brigham and Women's Hospital
- National Institutes of Health
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Agencia Estatal de Investigación
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
- National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases