Investigating antibody cross-reactivity and transmission dynamics of alphaviruses and flaviviruses using a multiplex serological assay
Nature Communications·
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41467-026-71451-7
- PMID
- 41986360
- PMCID
- PMC13083944
- OpenAlex
- W7154492904
- Study type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
The integrative approach demonstrates potential for improving arbovirus surveillance, especially in resource-limited settings where multiple viruses circulate and cross-reactivity hinders accurate diagnostics and transmission monitoring.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
The study aimed to develop and validate a multiplex serological assay capable of quantifying antibody responses to multiple arboviruses while resolving cross-reactivity issues that complicate surveillance and diagnostics.
Study design
Researchers developed a high-throughput multiplex serological assay targeting 28 antigens from nine arboviruses and applied it to more than 4000 samples collected from epidemiologically distinct sites across four continents. The study used Bayesian finite mixture models and ROC analysis to assess performance and establish seropositivity thresholds, and combined competitive immunoassays with mathematical modeling to distinguish cross-reactive from virus-specific responses.
Population and setting
The assay was applied to samples from epidemiologically distinct sites spanning four continents, though specific population characteristics are not detailed in the abstract.
Main findings
The multiplex assay successfully resolved cross-reactive and virus-specific antibody responses for chikungunya and Mayaro viruses, yielding cross-reactivity-adjusted estimates of transmission dynamics that aligned with existing epidemiological evidence. Chikungunya virus was found to induce cross-reactive antibody responses more frequently than Mayaro virus.
Public-health relevance
The integrative approach demonstrates potential for improving arbovirus surveillance, especially in resource-limited settings where multiple viruses circulate and cross-reactivity hinders accurate diagnostics and transmission monitoring.
Important limitations
This summary is limited to the supplied single-article abstract and metadata. Full interpretation of assay performance across diverse populations, generalizability to other arbovirus pairs, and operational constraints for implementation in surveillance systems requires review of the complete published article.
GIDS interpretation
The article addresses diagnostic and surveillance challenges posed by serological cross-reactivity among co-circulating arboviruses. The classifier links indicate relevance to Japanese encephalitis, dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and West Nile virus in the context of diagnostics, surveillance, and transmission dynamics.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 10 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.