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Immunoprecipitation of intact protein complexes (i.e. antigen along with any proteins or ligands that are bound to it) is known as co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP). Co-IP works by selecting an antibody that targets a known protein that is believed to be a member of a larger complex of proteins.
By detecting the presence of pathogen-specific antigens in patient samples, healthcare professionals can identify the causing agent of an infection and initiate appropriate treatment. [2] For example, precipitin tests can be used to detect antigens of infectious bronchitis caused by the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV).
Immunodiffusion is a laboratory technique used to detect and quantify antigens and antibodies by observing their interactions within a gel medium. [1] This technique involves the diffusion of antigens and antibodies through a gel, usually agar, resulting in the formation of a visible precipitate when they interact.
Antigens are bound to antibodies through weak and noncovalent interactions such as electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonds, Van der Waals forces, and hydrophobic interactions. [4] The principles of specificity and cross-reactivity of the antigen-antibody interaction are useful in clinical laboratory for diagnostic purposes.
Precipitation occurs with most antigens because the antigen is multivalent (i.e. has several antigenic determinants per molecule to which antibodies can bind). Antibodies have at least two antigen binding sites (and in the case of immunoglobulin M there is a multimeric complex with up to 10 antigen binding sites), thus large aggregates or gel ...
Therefore, precipitation near the center of the circle is usually less dense than it is near the circle's outer edge, where antigen is less concentrated. [1] [2] Expansion of the circle reaches an endpoint and stops when free antigen is depleted and when antigen and antibody reach equivalence.
In chemistry, coprecipitation (CPT) or co-precipitation is the carrying down by a precipitate of substances normally soluble under the conditions employed. [1] Analogously, in medicine, coprecipitation (referred to as immunoprecipitation) is specifically "an assay designed to purify a single antigen from a complex mixture using a specific antibody attached to a beaded support".
Immunochemical techniques include: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunoblotting (e.g., Western blot assay), precipitation and agglutination reactions, immunoelectrophoresis, immunophenotyping, immunochromatographic assay and cyflometry. One of the earliest examples of immunochemistry is the Wasserman test to detect syphilis.