Respiratory diseases represent a significant global health challenge, affecting millions of people every year. Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) were shown to affect over 450 million people globally in 2019, an increase of nearly 40% in comparison to 1990. 4 million deaths and 100 million people with a disability were recorded in 2019 as a result of CRDs [1]. Conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, and, more recently, COVID-19, continue to strain healthcare systems, drive hospital admissions, and lead to significant economic burdens worldwide. Estimations suggest a total cost of €380 billion spent for the care of CRD patients within the European Union in 2017 [2], while asthma and COPD alone are estimated to cost the NHS in the UK annually £3 billion and £1.9 billion respectively, highlighting the economic burden respiratory diseases can have [3].
Infections are key triggers for exacerbations in both COPD and asthma. In asthma, respiratory viruses account for most acute flare-ups in children and adults and are linked to more severe cases. In COPD, chronic bacterial infections add complexity, contributing to worsened airflow obstruction and heightened airway inflammation[4]. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of these infections is essential not only for effective treatment but also for reducing transmission and improving patient outcomes. In this landscape, in vitro diagnostic (IVD), academic and vaccine groups play a critical role in transforming respiratory disease diagnosis, enabling early detection, better patient management, and informed treatment decisions.
At The Native Antigen Company, we are committed to providing cutting-edge IVD solutions that empower laboratories and healthcare providers to make precise, timely diagnoses and to develop novel methods of prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases. Our comprehensive range of antibodies and antigens are designed to meet the growing need for reliable tools in the fight against respiratory illness.
The Growing Burden of Respiratory Diseases
Respiratory diseases are among the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 4 million people die annually from chronic respiratory diseases such as COPD and asthma, while respiratory infections like pneumonia and tuberculosis remain major killers, particularly in vulnerable populations. Additionally, air pollution and smoking continue to exacerbate respiratory conditions, making timely diagnosis and treatment more crucial than ever [5].
With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the urgency to improve diagnostic capabilities has reached new heights. Rapid, accurate testing is not only essential for patient care but also critical for public health strategies to prevent the spread of infectious respiratory diseases.
The Diagnostic World
In the face of the looming threat of respiratory diseases, the classification, characterisation and diagnosis of such diseases is the first step in tackling the issue. Research into the viral mechanisms and behaviour of these diseases is a must if treatments are to be developed. This relies on sourcing high quality viral antigens and bacterial toxins to establish complimentary antibodies and toxoids as the primary agents of protection against respiratory diseases in vaccines, an established method which has saved over 150 million lives over the last 50 years [6]. Such viral antigens and bacterial toxins are also key in the diagnosis of diseases as comparison controls for blood tests, assays and swab assessments.
The Native Antigen Company offers an extensive selection of up to date high quality viral antigens and bacterial toxins for respiratory diseases and viruses. We also offer a comprehensive selection of antibodies, renowned for their high specificity to diverse respiratory disease and viral antigens, giving customers a versatile set of reagents ideal for immunoassay development and other specialized applications. We pride ourselves on our rapid response to real world events and ensure newly discovered viral antigens are brought to market in line with the World Health Organisation’s recommendations.
What’s on offer?
Bordetella pertussis (whooping cough)
A highly contagious respiratory disease, known for uncontrollable, violent coughing resulting in breathing difficulties. Bordetella pertussis is a gram-negative coccobacillus that belongs to the genus Bordetella. Despite the successful introduction of a vaccine in the 1940s, cases of whooping cough are currently on the rise in the UK and the US [7], prompting the need for further research and updated treatments. The Native Antigen Company offers key antigens including the pertussis toxin in a variety of formats, which is ideal for use in immunoassay manufacture, as well as filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA) and pertactin/P69. FHA is increasingly used in immunoassays, monitoring responses to pertussis vaccination. A rabbit polyclonal antibody against pertussis toxin is also available.
Click here to see our products for Bordetella pertussis.
Human coronavirus
Coronaviruses were first identified in the mid-1960s and are named after the crown-like spikes on their surface. There are six different coronaviruses which infect humans and cause illness; 229E and NL63 (alpha coronaviruses), OC43 and HKU1 (beta coronaviruses), and two other coronaviruses, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV. A new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, was identified in December 2019 and is the causative agent of the COVID-19 respiratory disease, which was declared a pandemic in March 2020 [8].
The Native Antigen Company offers a range of coronavirus antigens including native antigens and recombinant proteins for novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19), SARS and MERS CoV. In the case of our recombinant spike proteins, antigens have been engineered for greater stability and to remain in their pre-fusion conformations. This approach improves their suitability for use in vaccine research, assay development and as immunogens for antibody generation. Also on offer are horseradish peroxidase (HRP) conjugated and biotinylated spike proteins for assay development.
Coronavirus monoclonal antibodies (including neutralizing antibodies) are also available that are specific to SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) proteins, including SARS-CoV nucleoprotein, spike and matrix proteins, SARS-CoV-2 spike S2 glycoprotein and MERS-CoV spike S1 glycoprotein.
Download our SARS-CoV-2 eBook or Click here to see our products for human coronavirus.
Influenza
Influenza virus is a type of enveloped, segmented, negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus of the Orthomyxoviridae family, commonly known as ‘the flu’. It is highly contagious and most common during the winter months with three major antigenic types (influenza A, B and C). Influenza A viruses are the most virulent among the three and are the predominant cause of seasonal and pandemic influenza [9]. Influenza A viruses are categorized into subtypes based on the combination of two envelope glycoproteins, haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), which are key immune system targets. Due to frequent mutations and gene rearrangements, these glycoproteins undergo antigenic variations, meaning vaccines developed against influenza must be updated and administered annually due to its rapidly evolving nature. To date, 18 HA and 11 NA subtypes have been identified [10], with influenza A H1N1 and H3N2 currently circulating in humans [11].
The Native Antigen Company offers a range of mammalian-expressed recombinant influenza proteins from a number of different sub-types of influenza A, along with monoclonal antibodies that can distinguish between infection with influenza A and B. These include monoclonal antibodies that are highly specific to each clade and show no known cross-reactivity with other common respiratory viruses including adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus. Our recombinantly produced proteins are engineered to mimic the oligomeric state of their native counterparts (HA as a stable trimer and NA as a stable tetramer). Thus, they are applicable for use in assay development, vaccine research and as immunogens for the generation of neutralising antibodies.
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Respiratory syncytial virus
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an enveloped, negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus. It is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms but can be more serious in the most vulnerable (for infants or the elderly, or those with pre-existing medical conditions). It has two major antigenic groups, classified as subtypes A and B [12]. These are both available as viral lysates from The Native Antigen Company. Also offered is RSV A glycoprotein G (major attachment protein, mediates cell entry) with a range of tags, to aid IVD assay development and vaccine R&D. Monoclonal antibodies specific to RSV are also available which are highly specific and do not cross-react with adenovirus or influenza viruses.
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Rhinovirus
Rhinoviruses (RV) belong to the genus Enterovirus in the family Picornavirida and are the primary aetiological agent of the common cold, with three species known (rhinovirus A, B and C) which include around 160 recognized types differing according to surface proteins. The associated infection is typically mild and self limiting but can be more severe in infants and the immunocompromised leading to bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Due to the sheer number of rhinoviruses and the lack of cross protection between serotypes, no vaccines are currently available. However research has indicated some highly conserved proteins between serotypes, which may pave the way to a pan-serotype rhinovirus vaccine in the future [13]. The Native Antigen Company offers a rhinovirus viral lysate and three rhinovirus antibodies raised against VP3, ideal for use in vaccine development and laboratory research.
Click here to see our products for rhinovirus.
Partner with Us for Advanced Respiratory Disease Reagents
The future of respiratory disease management depends on rapid, reliable diagnostics. At The Native Antigen Company, we are proud to be a trusted partner for laboratories, clinics, and healthcare providers worldwide. Our IVD solutions are designed to meet the highest standards of accuracy and efficiency, ensuring that respiratory diseases can be detected and treated quickly and effectively.
Contact us today to learn more about how our in vitro diagnostic products can support your respiratory disease diagnostics and help you deliver better outcomes for your patients. Or visit our website to view our full product catalogue and services we provide.
References
[1] Chen, X. et al. (2023) ‘Global, regional, and national burden of chronic respiratory diseases and associated risk factors, 1990–2019: Results from the global burden of disease study 2019’, Frontiers in Medicine, 10. doi:10.3389/fmed.2023.1066804..
[2] Collaborators GCRD (2020). ‘Prevalence and attributable health burden of chronic respiratory diseases, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017’, Lancet Respiratory Med. 8:585–96. 10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30105-3
[3] NHS England (no date) ‘Respiratory disease’. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/clinical-policy/respiratory-disease/. (Accessed: 01 October 2024).
[4] Wark PA, Tooze M, Powell H, Parsons K. Viral and bacterial infection in acute asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease increases the risk of readmission. Respirology. 2013 Aug;18(6):996-1002. doi: 10.1111/resp.12099. PMID: 23600594; PMCID: PMC7169161.
[5] Li, X. et al. (2020) ‘Trends and risk factors of mortality and disability adjusted life years for chronic respiratory diseases from 1990 to 2017: Systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study 2017’, BMJ, p. m234. doi:10.1136/bmj.m234.
[6] World Health Organization (no date). Available at: https://www.who.int/news/item/24-04-2024-global-immunization-efforts-have-saved-at-least-154-million-lives-over-the-past-50-years (Accessed: Accessed: 01 October 2024).
[7] About whooping cough outbreaks (2024) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/outbreaks/index.html (Accessed: 02 October 2024).
[8] Lalchhandama, K. (2020) ‘The chronicles of coronaviruses: The bronchitis, the hepatitis and the Common Cold’, Science Vision, 20(1), pp. 43–53. doi:10.33493/scivis.20.01.04.
[9] Bouvier, N.M. and Palese, P. (2008). The Biology of Influenza viruses. Vaccine.26 (Suppl 4): D49–D53.
[10] Types of influenza viruses (2024) | CDC. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/viruses/types.htm (Accessed: 02 October 2024).
[11] Influenza (seasonal) (2023) World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.who.int/health-topics/influenza-seasonal (Accessed: 02 October 2024).
[12] Sullender, W.M. (2000) ‘Respiratory syncytial virus genetic and antigenic diversity’, Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 13(1), pp. 1–15. doi:10.1128/cmr.13.1.1.
[13] Katpally U, Fu TM, Freed DC, Casimiro DR, Smith TJ. Antibodies to the buried N terminus of rhinovirus VP4 exhibit cross-serotypic neutralization. J Virol. 2009 Jul;83(14):7040-8.