Enhanced Recovery and Detection of Highly Infectious Animal Disease Viruses by Virus Capture Using Nanotrap® Microbiome A Particles

This study reports the use of Nanotrap® Microbiome A Particles (NMAPs) to capture and concentrate viruses from diluted suspensions to improve their recovery and sensitivity to detection by real-time PCR/RT-PCR (qPCR/RT-qPCR). Five highly infectious animal disease viruses including goatpox virus (GTPV), sheeppox virus (SPPV), lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV), peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV), and African swine fever virus (ASFV) were used in this study. After capture, the viruses remained viable and recoverable by virus isolation (VI) using susceptible cell lines. To assess efficacy of recovery, the viruses were serially diluted in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or Eagle’s Minimum Essential Medium (EMEM) and then subjected to virus capture using NMAPs. The NMAPs and the captured viruses were clarified on a magnetic stand, reconstituted in PBS or EMEM, and analyzed separately by VI and virus-specific qPCR/RT-qPCR. The PCR results showed up to a 100-fold increase in the sensitivity of detection of the viruses following virus capture compared to the untreated viruses from the same dilutions. Experimental and clinical samples were subjected to virus capture using NMAPs and analyzed by PCR to determine diagnostic sensitivity (DSe) that was comparable (100%) to that determined using untreated (-NMAPs) samples. NMAPs were also used to capture spiked viruses from EDTA whole blood (EWB). Virus capture from EWB was partially blocked, most likely by hemoglobin (HMB), which also binds NMAPs and outcompetes the viruses. The effect of HMB could be removed by either dilution (in PBS) or using HemogloBind™ (Biotech Support Group; Monmouth Junction, NJ, USA), which specifically binds and precipitates HMB. Enhanced recovery and detection of viruses using NMAPs can be applicable to other highly pathogenic animal viruses of agricultural importance.