Microsphere-couplings standardization with ZIKV or its E protein: The first step to construct a multiplex assay for Zika/Dengue

Introduction: Zika virus (ZIKV) was considered world emergency during Zika outbreak in Brazil in 2015. ZIKV is a clinically important arbovirus that can cause fetal neurological complications in infected pregnant women and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. Serological diagnosis of ZIKV infection is a challenging due to high cross-reactivity between flaviviruses, for exemple with Dengue virus (DENV). Accurate and early diagnosis is essential to properly manage the patients. Samples collected in the viremic period of the ZIKV infection are conducted for viral load measurement by molecular tests and samples collected after that period are evaluated by serological tests such as ELISA and the results are confirmed by PRNT. In the present study, we intend to construct a diagnosis test based in the liquid microarray (LIM) to detect antibodies against ZIKV and DENV simultaneously, associated to treatment with a chaotropic agent step to minimize cross-reaction.