Breakthrough in Hepatitis B Virus Detection: Researchers Develop Efficient DNA Tagging Strategy

Researchers from the Chinese Institute for Brain Research have developed a modular, site-specific, and cost-efficient DNA tagging strategy for detecting hepatitis B virus, enabling multiplexed and high-throughput biomolecule detection. Using nanobodies as modular adaptors, the team created a one-component design that allows for direct site-specific labeling of off-the-shelf IgG antibodies. This innovative approach, called multiplexed and modular barcoding of antibodies (MaMBA), has been successfully applied in various fields, including in situ protein imaging and high-throughput biomolecule detection.

Key Takeaways:

• Researchers from the Chinese Institute for Brain Research have developed a novel DNA tagging strategy, called MaMBA, which enables site-specific labeling of antibodies with a one-component design.
• MaMBA utilizes nanobodies as modular adaptors, allowing for direct labeling of off-the-shelf IgG antibodies.
• The strategy has been successfully applied in various fields, including in situ protein imaging and high-throughput biomolecule detection.
• Researchers demonstrated the effectiveness of MaMBA in detecting hepatitis B virus-associated antigens in human serum samples using the barcode-linked immunosorbent assay (BLISA) method.
• Additional authors contributing to the research include Shilin Zhong, Ruiyu Wang, Qingchun Guo, Rui Lin, and Minmin Luo.
• The research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, China Brain Initiative, Beijing Nova Program, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and New Cornerstone Investigator Program.
• The newly developed MaMBA strategy offers a highly modular and easily adaptable approach for antibody DNA barcoding, which can be broadly applied in basic research and clinical diagnostics.

Statistics:

• The researchers successfully developed a method for simultaneously visualizing 12 different targets within the same mouse brain sections through iterative probe use.
• The BLISA method achieved high-throughput biomolecule detection by combining multiplexed and modular barcoding of antibodies (MaMBA) with next-generation sequencing.
• Researchers successfully measured SARS-CoV-2 IgG and hepatitis B virus-associated antigens in a large number of human serum samples using the BLISA method.
• The research demonstrated a small-scale drug screen by using BLISA to simultaneously detect eight protein targets.

Sources:

• Modular DNA barcoding of nanobodies enables multiplexed in situ protein imaging and high-throughput biomolecule detection. eLife, 2025,14.
• Study Findings on Hepatitis B Virus Published by Researchers at Chinese Institute for Brain Research (Modular DNA barcoding of nanobodies enables multiplexed in situ protein imaging and high-throughput biomolecule detection). Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA. August 10, 2025; p 457.