Interactome Mapping: Using Protein Microarray Technology to Reconstruct Diverse Protein Networks

Uzoma, Ijeoma; Zhu, Heng

Protein microarrays can also be used as a diagnostic tool for infectious diseases. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an infectious disease, caused by a novel coronavirus (CoV), which appeared in Guangdong, China in November 2002. As of March 2003, the virus had spread globally and by July over 8000 SARS cases and approximately 800 deaths were reported worldwide [58] . At the time of the outbreak, no effective treatment of SARS was available, thus isolation and infection control were the best way to limit the spread of the virus. Therefore, rapid and reliable, early diagnosis is critical to control such an epidemic. Zhu et al. developed the first virus protein microarray, which included all the SARS-CoV proteins as well as proteins from five additional coronaviruses that can infect human (HCoV-299E and HCoV-OC43), cow (BCV), cat (FIPV) and mouse (MHVA59) [13] . The SARS microarray was used to screen sera from infected and noninfected individuals in a double-blind format. The samples were quickly distinguished as SARS positive or SARS negative based on the presence of human IgG and IgM antibodies against SARS-CoV proteins, with a 94% accuracy rate compared to a standard ELISA diagnostic test. The SARS microarray improved the sensitivity of the assay 50-fold over the ELISA and dramatically reduced the amount of sample required. This method may be suitable for diagnosis for many viral infections.