Scientists from Arizona State University have determined that immunosignatures-easily obtained from plasma, serum, saliva, and blood-can help to assess general health status and identify changes that indicate various illnesses prior to symptom development. Storing the immunosignatures will allow each individual to have a baseline of his/her own immune activity. Changes displayed after the baseline is determined can be used to detect presymptomatic indicators of many illnesses.

Brian Andrew Chase and Barten Legutki, under the guidance of Stephen Albert Johnston, at the Center for Innovations in Medicine at Arizona State University's Biodesign Institute developed the low-cost, relatively simple, and statistically robust strategy. One drop of blood on a glass slide is analyzed for antibodies. Each drop of blood can contain 10,000 antibodies. Peptides bind with the antibodies and lead to fluorescence. The peptide-antibody combinations are measured by a machine and then stored. The information can then be retrieved and compared with subsequent analysis to assist with determining the presence of infectious diseases, chronic disease, or some cancers.

Immunosignatures change following exposure to a pathogen or a vaccine or any other situation that can alter antibody activity. The Arizona group has determined that immunosignatures provide useful diagnostic information for influenza, Alzheimer's disease, pancreatic diseases, and lupus.

Advantages of this method include comparing each individual's immune system activity to baseline data for that person. Laboratory values are usually based on a pre-established norm as opposed to information from one individual. Identifying diseases prior to the development of symptoms could assist in decreasing healthcare costs.

Source: Immunosignaturing: early warning of future illness. In: Plexus News. Thursday Complexity Post. Washington DC: Plexus Institute; 2012 [cited May 17, 2012].

Submitted by: Robin E. Pattillo PhD, RN, CNL, News Editor at [email protected].