A lateral flow protein microarray for rapid determination of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia status in bovine serum

Novel analytical methods for a next generation of diagnostic devices combine attributes from sensitive, accurate, fast, simple and multiplexed analysis methods. Here, we describe a possible contribution to these by the application of a lateral flow microarray where a panel of recombinant protein antigens was used to differentiate bovine serum samples in the context of the lung disease contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP). Lateral flow arrays were produced by attaching nitrocellulose onto microscopic slides and spotting of the recombinant proteins onto the membranes. The developed assay included evaluations of substrate matrix and detection reagents to allow for short assay times and convenient read-out options, and to yield a total assay time from sample application to data acquisition of less than ten minutes. It was found that healthy and disease-affected animals could be discriminated (AUC = 97%), and we suggest that the use of an antigen panel in combination with the lateral flow device offers an emerging analytical tool towards a simplified but accurate on-site diagnosis.