Revolutionary Microchip Technology Speeds Up Antibody Mapping

On July 12, 2025, Scripps Research announced the development of a groundbreaking microchip technology, microfluidic EM-based polyclonal epitope mapping (mEM), capable of analyzing antibody-virus interactions using just a drop of blood in approximately 90 minutes. This innovation condenses a week's worth of laboratory work into a rapid process, offering a powerful tool for tracking immune responses and accelerating vaccine development.

The mEM system represents a significant advancement over previous methods like electron microscopy-based polyclonal epitope mapping (EMPEM). While EMPEM required large blood volumes and took a full week to complete, mEM reduces the blood requirement to just four microliters—approximately one hundred times less—and completes the analysis in about 90 minutes. The process involves injecting the small blood sample into a tiny, reusable chip where viral proteins are affixed to a specialized surface. As the blood flows through the chip, antibodies bind to these proteins. The viral proteins, along with any attached antibodies, are then gently released and prepared for imaging using standard electron microscopy.

To validate the effectiveness of mEM, the research team applied the system to map antibodies in humans and mice that had either received a vaccination against or been infected with viruses such as influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and HIV. The technique not only expedited the mapping process but also demonstrated higher sensitivity than EMPEM, uncovering new antibody binding sites on both influenza and coronavirus proteins that had not been detected previously. Additionally, the researchers tracked how antibodies evolved over time in individual mice post-vaccination by taking small blood samples at different intervals—a feat not feasible with earlier methods due to larger blood volume requirements.

The development of mEM technology holds profound implications for public health and vaccine development. By enabling rapid and detailed analysis of antibody responses with minimal blood samples, mEM can significantly accelerate the process of vaccine optimization and development. This is particularly crucial in responding to emerging infectious diseases, where time is of the essence. Furthermore, the ability to monitor immune responses over time with minimal invasiveness enhances our understanding of vaccine efficacy and the durability of immune protection.

Prior to mEM, methods like EMPEM and hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS) were employed for epitope mapping. While effective, these techniques were time-consuming, required larger sample volumes, and were less sensitive in detecting certain antibody binding sites. The mEM system addresses these limitations by offering a faster, more sensitive, and less invasive alternative.

The research team is currently working on automating and multiplexing the mEM system to allow for the simultaneous processing of multiple samples. The ultimate goal is for mEM to become a widely adopted tool for monitoring and guiding vaccine development against a range of pathogens, from coronaviruses to malaria. As the system becomes more streamlined and accessible, it is expected to be a valuable asset for researchers and healthcare professionals worldwide.

The development of mEM technology by Scripps Research marks a significant advancement in immunological research and vaccine development, offering a rapid, sensitive, and minimally invasive method for mapping antibody-virus interactions.