Publication
Title
First-void urine : a reservoir of HPV-related biomarkers
Author
Abstract
Effectively monitoring infection, disease, and immune response relies on the availability of appropriate samples. Recently, there has been a growing interest in first-void urine sampling, especially among females, as it allows for the non-invasive collection of urogenital tract secretions that have accumulated between the labia minora. In human papillomavirus (HPV) research, first-void urine shows promise for assessing virological, diagnostic, and immunological endpoints, presenting a valuable single-sample option for disease and vaccine monitoring. This thesis contributed to the optimization of the use of first-void urine as a non-invasive sample for monitoring HPV infection and vaccination. With the focus on virological endpoints (HPV DNA), we contributed to selecting an optimal combination of first-void urine collection volume and processing methods (Chapter 02-A). Since there is substantial evidence supporting the feasibility of using first-void urine for detecting virological endpoints, this thesis mainly focused on addressing knowledge gaps related to immunological endpoints. Here, we confirmed the stability of HPV-specific antibodies in first-void urine and showed compatibility of IgG storage with a preservative required to avoid DNA degradation (Chapter 03-A). We also showed usability of an in-house developed immunoassay (HPV16-DELFIA) for the detection of HPV16-specific antibodies in first-void urine and serum (Chapter 03-B). Furthermore, we were the first to demonstrate that first-void urine is a suitable tool for monitoring HPV vaccination with the 9vHPV in females and detecting HPV DNA simultaneously (Chapter 03-C). Additionally, we set up pilot experiments investigating if HPV vaccination could potentially block the spread of newly produced virions. In this part, we proved that local HPV-specific antibodies captured with first-void urine, remain neutralizing (Chapter 04-A). Furthermore, we provided crucial insights into optimal precipitation protocols for detecting and concentrating HPV pseudovirions in first-void urine, potentially extending to naturally occurring HPV virions (Chapter 04-B). In summary, this thesis significantly contributed to the implementation of first-void urine as a non-invasively collected multi-purpose sample for monitoring HPV infection and vaccine impact. First-void urine self-sampling supports broader public health initiatives, providing a feasible option for conducting large-scale screening programs, epidemiological studies, and vaccine trials.
Language
English
Publication
Antwerpen : Universiteit Antwerpen, Faculteit Geneeskunde en Gezondheidswetenschappen , 2024
DOI
10.63028/10067/2051350151162165141
Volume/pages
257 p.
Note
Supervisor: Vorsters, Alex [Supervisor]
Supervisor: Delputte, Peter [Supervisor]
Supervisor: Van Keer, Severien [Supervisor]
Supervisor: Van Damme, Pierre [Supervisor]
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Development of a first-void urine based highly sensitive competitive HPV immunoassay.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Record
Identifier
Creation 16.04.2024
Last edited 17.06.2024
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