Tenekua Tapia

Title: Tenekua Tapia: Innovator in Viral Assays

Introduction

Tenekua Tapia is a notable inventor based in Orlando, FL (US). He has made significant contributions to the field of viral assays, holding a total of 3 patents. His work focuses on developing sensitive and efficient laboratory assays that enhance the understanding of virus-cell interactions.

Latest Patents

One of his latest patents is titled "Fluorescent neutralization and adherence inhibition assays." This invention comprises rugged, inexpensive, reliable, and sensitive laboratory assays of antibody-based viral neutralization activity and antibody-based viral adherence inhibition activity. The assays utilize inactivated, fluorescently-labeled virus, allowing tests to be performed without extensive safety precautions. The interaction of the labeled virus with target cells is monitored using flow cytometric methods. A preferred embodiment employs simple and inexpensive flow cytometry methodologies and equipment, such as bead array readers used as simplified flow cytometers. The assays are rapid, taking no longer than a few hours and can be readily conducted by a trained technician. They are sensitive because they use labeled viruses at low concentrations and determine the neutralizing and blocking capacity of sera and antibodies at low concentrations. The methods are appropriate for high-throughput screening of large panels of samples.

Another significant patent is the "Surface-assisted hemagglutination and hemagglutination inhibition assays." Hemagglutination (HA) and hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) functional assays remain important instruments for analyzing virus-cell interactions and the protective efficacy of virus-specific antibodies and sera. However, they demonstrate limited sensitivity towards many viruses and require significant volumes of viruses, erythrocytes, sera, and antibodies. This invention comprises new and significantly more sensitive versions of the HA and HAI assays based on observing agglutination on activated surfaces of specifically opsonized plates and ELISA plates rather than in solution. A version of the new assay that uses ELISA plates additionally allows for characterizing the affinity of functional antibodies in the tested sera and fluids, which is not possible in the classical HAI assay. The methods of this invention can also improve the sensitivity of agglutination methods based on latex beads and develop agglutination methods using target cells other than erythrocytes.

Career Highlights

Tenekua Tapia is currently associated with Sanofi Pasteur Vaxdesign Corporation, where he