Piezoelectric affinity biosensor for diagnosing bovine leukemia

Abstract

A piezoelectric affinity sensor based on immobilised bovine leukemija virus (BLV) envelope protein gp51 is described. A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) has been used to register interaction of gp51 with specific antibodies from the blood serum of BLV-infected cattle. Protein gp51 was cross-linked with glutaraldehyde on the platinized surface of quartz crystals to prevent fast desorption. The behaviour of coating containing the gp51 in a pure glycine buffer pH 7.3 as well as in a glycine buffer pH 7.3 mixed with blood serum from BLV-infected and not infected cattle was studied. The possibility to exploit the QCM-based bioanalytical system for fast diagnosis of BLV is discussed. Keywords: QCM, immunosensor, leukemia, retrovirus