(Bio)sensors for lymphocyte type and function

There is constant progress in characterising and understanding the immune response to infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, allergies and cancers. Lymphocytes can be stimulated in-vitro followed by antibody staining and flow cytometry analysis, or can undergo proliferation and cytotoxicity assay. Among the most powerful approaches in terms of sensitivity for evaluating lymphocyte antigen specificity and frequency is the Elispot/Fluorospot method which involves B- or T-cell capture and antigen stimulation, followed by detection of released antibody or cytokine using labelled antibody and image enumeration. Sensors and biosensors offer the possibility of interrogating cellular events (and in real time) by integrating lymphocyte cell capture, stimulation, and signal output. Such devices might examine lymphocyte responses at a population level for clinical information, but also at single-cell level for research purposes. The prospect of a point-of-care device would offer new applications in patient- and self-monitoring.

Progress towards diagnostic devices for monitoring the adaptive cellular immune response relies on novel sensor/biosensor platforms that can identify, quantify and characterise lymphocytes by type (T-cell, B-cell), surface marker expression (e.g.CD3, CD4, CD8), antigen specificity (TcR recognition of MHC + peptide antigen), and/or function (cytotoxicity, cytokine release, antibody production) and provide a rapid analytical readout. Impedance changes in 96-well plate cultures is one current option. However, numerous combinations of (bio)recognition elements (antibodies, aptamers, receptors, MHC + peptides, tetramers, nucleic acids, nanomaterials) and modes of signal transduction (optical, electrochemical, impedance, piezoelectric, magnetic, physical, etc.) are possible. The evolution of sensor technologies towards clinical and Point-of-Care lymphocyte response determination is accelerating at pace.

The aim of the current research topic is to cover the latest research in sensor/biosensor technologies for lymphocyte detection and monitoring. We welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:

• Biosensors for lymphocyte capture and enumeration
• Biosensors for B-cell and/or T-cell antigen specificity
• Biosensors for lymphocyte activation and signaling
• Single- or multiple-cells sensors/arrays
• Electrochemical, optical, impedance, piezoelectric, magnetic, physical sensors

Keywords: Lymphocyte, T-cell, B-cell, antigen specificity, activation

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