127. Development of a Kinetic ELISA (kELISA) and Reactive B-cell Frequency (RBF) Assay to Detect Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Pre-Fusion F Protein-Specific Immune Responses in Infants
Authors: Rolsma Stephanie L , Yoder Sandy M , Nargi Rachel S , Brady Eric , Jimenez-Truque Natalia , Thomsen Isaac , Thompson Marissa , Carnahan Robert H , Sutton Rachel E , Armstrong Erica , Dally Len , Crowe James E , Edwards Kathryn M , Creech Buddy 
Published: December 2021

Abstract

Background
RSV is a major cause of pediatric respiratory disease. Antibodies to the prefusion conformation of the RSV fusion (pre-F) protein are needed for virus neutralization.

Methods
We measured RSV-specific responses in two groups of children &lt; 3 years of age; subjects with laboratory-confirmed RSV (RSV-infected) or infants born in the period May to September and enrolled prior to their first RSV season (RSV-uninfected). RSV-infected infants had blood samples obtained at 1, 6, 9, and 12 months after infection. RSV-uninfected infants had blood samples obtained at enrollment, at the end of their first RSV season, and 6 months later. A kELISA to measure RSV pre-F-specific antibodies and an RBF assay to identify RSV F-specific B cells were developed.

Results
102 subjects were enrolled; 11 were excluded due to missed visits or withdrawal. Of the 65 subjects in the RSV-uninfected group, all were kELISA positive at enrollment, consistent with maternal antibody transfer. 53 subjects had sufficient samples for analysis at multiple time points; 29 became seronegative and 24 remained seropositive. In the seronegative group, the kELISA value decreased rapidly to &lt; 0.25 by 6 months after the RSV season in 27/29 (93%), (Figure 1a). In the persistently seropositive group, all 24 subjects maintained a positive kELISA value, with some developing higher values over time, consistent with asymptomatic infection (Figure 1b). An RBF assay was used to determine whether antibodies were due to persistent maternal antibodies or endogenous production (Figure 2). In the seronegative group, 24/29 (80%) had a negative RBF; in the seropositive group, 23/24 (96%) had a positive RBF during follow-up.
There were 26 subjects in the RSV-infected group; 22 had sufficient samples for analysis at multiple time points. All were seropositive by kELISA at one month post-infection with variable kELISA values during follow-up (Figure 3). 17/22 (77%) had a positive RBF, although 4 of the subjects without a positive RBF had indeterminate results at ≥ 1 visit.

Figure 1. kELISA values of baseline RSV-negative subjects, by subject age at time of sample. Panel A: Subjects classified as seronegative (n=29). Panel B: Subjects without known RSV classified as persistently seropositive (n=24).

Figure 2. Reactive B-cell frequency assay.
The first step in the RBF assay is growth of Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines (LCLs), as shown over days 1-3 (Left-Day 1, Middle-Day 2, Right-Day 3, magnification 200X). The cells circled in the figure indicate a single LCL’s growth over time. LCL supernatant is used to detect RSV F-protein specific antibodies using traditional ELISA, resulting in a positive, indeterminate, or negative result. Indeterminate results occur due to a lack of cell viability and/or failure to form LCLs, resulting in failure to exceed an optical density of 5x background.

Figure 3. kELISA values of RSV-infected subjects, by subject age at time of sample.
First sample was obtained at approximately one month after laboratory-confirmed RSV.

Conclusion
Assays measuring F-specific immune responses in infants will be critical for RSV vaccine development. A kELISA targeting RSV pre-F epitopes, with an RBF assay targeting RSV F-specific B cells, may allow discrimination for maternal and infant-derived antibodies.

Disclosures
Isaac Thomsen, MD, MSCI, Horizon Therapeutics (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Consultant James E. Crowe, Jr., MD, Astra Zeneca (Grant/Research Support)IDBiologics (Board Member, Grant/Research Support, Shareholder)Luna Biologics (Consultant)Meissa Vaccines (Advisor or Review Panel member)Takeda Vaccines (Grant/Research Support) Kathryn M. Edwards, MD, Bionet (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Consultant; CDC (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Research Grant or Support; IBM (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Consultant; Merck (Individual(s) Involved: Self): member DSMC, Other Financial or Material Support; Moderna (Individual(s) Involved: Self): member DSMC, Other Financial or Material Support; NIH (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Research Grant or Support; Pfizer (Individual(s) Involved: Self): member DSMC, Other Financial or Material Support; Roche (Individual(s) Involved: Self): member of DSMB, Other Financial or Material Support; Sanofi Pasteur (Individual(s) Involved: Self): member DSMB, Other Financial or Material Support; Sequiras (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Member DSMB, Other Financial or Material Support; X4 Pharmaceuticals (Individual(s) Involved: Self): Consultant Buddy Creech, MD, MPH, Altimmune (Consultant)Astellas (Other Financial or Material Support, Data and Safety Monitoring Committee)Diotheris (Consultant)GSK (Consultant)Horizon (Consultant)Merck (Scientific Research Study Investigator)Premier Healthcare (Advisor or Review Panel member)Vir (Consultant)