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Antigen–Antibody
Reaction
Learning objectives
2
At the end of the session, the students will be able to understand:
▰ General properties of antigen antibody reactions
▰ Types of antigen antibody reactions
▰ Conventional immunoassays
▰ Newer techniques
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
ANTIGEN–ANTIBODY REACTION
3
▰ Bimolecular association where the antigen and antibody combine with each
other specifically and in an observable manner .
 Similar to an enzyme-substrate interaction.
 Only difference is, it does not lead to an irreversible alteration in either
antibody or in antigen.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
GENERAL PROPERTIES OF ANTIGEN -
ANTIBODY REACTIONS
4
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Specific
5
▰ Specific interaction between epitope of an antigen with the corresponding
paratope of its homologous antibody.
▰ Exception- cross reactions which may occur due to sharing of epitopes
among different antigens.
▰ In such cases, antibody against one antigen can cross react with a similar
epitope of a different antigen.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Noncovalent Interactions
6
▰ Union of antigen and antibody requires formation of large number of non-
covalent interactions between them such as:
 Hydrogen bonds
 Electrostatic interactions
 Hydrophobic interactions
 Van der Waals forces.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Strength
7
▰ The strength or the firmness of the association is influenced by the affinity
and avidity of the antigen–antibody interaction.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Affinity
8
▰ Refers to the sum total of noncovalent interactions between a single epitope
of an antigen with its corresponding paratope present on antibody.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Avidity
9
▰ Term used to describe the affinities of all the binding sites when multivalent
antibody reacts with a complex antigen carrying multiple epitopes.
▰ Total strength (i.e. avidity) would be much higher than the individual affinity at
each binding site - but lower than the sum of all affinities.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Avidity (Cont..)
10
▰ Geometry of the multivalent antibody gets stretched when it reacts with a
complex antigen, as it has to reach and accommodate all the epitopes -
resulting in less optimal binding interactions
▰ Avidity is a better indicator of strength of an antigen-antibody reaction.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Diagnostic Use
11
Diagnostic Use:
▰ Specific and observable
▰ Diagnostic tests based on antigen-antibody reactions are called as
immunoassays
▰ Immunoassays can be broadly categorized into two types-
 Antigen detection assays
 Antibody detection assays
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Qualitative vs Quantitative Immunoassays
12
▰ Immunoassays can be performed by both qualitative and quantitative
methods.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Qualitative Assays
13
▰ Undiluted specimen containing the antibody is directly mixed with the
suspension of antigen or vice versa.
▰ Result is read as ‘positive’ or ‘negative’ based on presence or absence of
antigen or antibody in the clinical specimen.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Quantitative Assays
14
▰ When the qualitative test turns positive, the exact amount of antibody in
serum can be estimated by serial dilution of the patient’s serum and mixing
each dilution of the serum with a known quantity of antigen.
▰ Measurement of antibody is expressed in terms of titer.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Quantitative Assays (Cont..)
15
▰ Quantitative tests are more reliable as they can differentiate between true
negative and falsenegative results.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Marrack’s Lattice Hypothesis
16
▰ Ag-Ab reaction is weak or fails to occur when the number of antigen and
antibodies are not proportionate to each other.
▰ Prozone phenomenon - In the earlier test tubes, antibodies are excess, hence
the Ag-Ab reaction does not occur.
▰ Post zone phenomenon - In the later test tubes, antigen is excess, hence the
Ag-Ab reaction fails to occur.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Marrack’s Lattice Hypothesis (Cont..)
17
▰ In prozone/post zone - Lattice does not
enlarge, due to inhibition of lattice
formation by the excess antibody or
antigen respectively, as the valencies of
the antibody and the antigen respectively,
are fully satisfied.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Evaluation of Immunoassays
18
▰ Sensitivity and specificity are the two most important statistical parameters.
▰ Sensitivity is defined as ability of a test to identify correctly all those who have
the disease i.e. true positives.
▰ Sensitivity is calculated as = True positives
True positives + False negatives
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Evaluation of Immunoassays (Cont..)
19
▰ Specificity is defined as ability of a test to identify correctly all those who do
not have disease i.e. true negatives.
▰ Specificity is calculated as = True negatives
True negatives + False positives
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
TYPES OF ANTIGEN–ANTIBODY
REACTIONS
20
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
TYPES OF ANTIGEN–ANTIBODY
REACTIONS
21
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Conventional techniques -
 Precipitation reaction
 Agglutination reaction
 Complement fixation test
 Neutralization test
Newer techniques -
 Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
 Enzyme linked fluorescent assay (ELISA)
 Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA)
 Chemiluminescence-linked immunoassay (CLIA)
 Immunohistochemistry
 Rapid tests-
 Lateral flow assay (Immunochromatographic test)
 Flow through assay
 Western blot
 Immunoassays using electron microscope
CONVENTIONAL IMMUNOASSAYS
22
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
PRECIPITATION REACTION
23
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
PRECIPITATION REACTION
24
▰ Definition-When a soluble antigen reacts with its antibody in the presence of
optimal temperature, pH and electrolytes (NaCl), it leads to formation of the
antigen-antibody complex in the form of:
 Insoluble precipitate band when gel containing medium is used or
 Insoluble floccules when liquid medium is used (precipitate remains
suspended as floccules)
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Clinical Applications
25
▰ Slide Flocculation Test (for Syphilis)
 Examples - VDRL (Venereal Disease Research Laboratory) and RPR (Rapid
Plasma Reagin) tests
▰ Elek’s Gel Precipitation Test ( Detecting Diphtheria Toxin)
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
AGGLUTINATION REACTION
26
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
AGGLUTINATION REACTION
27
Definition
▰ When a particulate or insoluble antigen is mixed with its antibody in the
presence of electrolytes at a suitable temperature and pH, the particles are
clumped or agglutinated.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
AGGLUTINATION REACTION (Cont..)
28
Advantage:
▰ More sensitive than precipitation test and the
▰ Clumps are better visualized and interpreted as compared to bands or
floccules.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
AGGLUTINATION REACTION (Cont..)
29
Applications:
▰ Classified as direct, indirect (passive) and reverse passive agglutination
reactions.
▰ All these agglutination tests are performed - on a slide, or in tube or in card or
sometimes in microtiter plates.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Direct Agglutination Test
30
The antigen directly agglutinates with the antibody.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Slide Agglutination
31
▰ Performed to confirm the identification and serotyping of bacterial colonies
grown in culture.
▰ Method used for blood grouping and cross matching.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Tube Agglutination
32
▰ Standard quantitative test for estimating antibody in serum.
▰ Antibody titer can be estimated as the highest dilution of the serum which
produces a visible agglutination.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Tube agglutination- Applications
33
▰ Typhoid fever (Widal test)
▰ Acute brucellosis (Standard agglutination test)
▰ Coombs Antiglobulin test (see below)
▰ Heterophile agglutination tests:
 Typhus fever (Weil Felix reaction)
 Infectious mononucleosis (Paul Bunnell test)
 Mycoplasma pneumonia (Cold agglutination test)
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Microscopic Agglutination
34
▰ Agglutination test is performed on a microtiter plate.
▰ Result is read under a microscope.
▰ MAT is done for leptospirosis.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Indirect or Passive Agglutination Test
(for Antibody Detection)
35
▰ Indirect hemagglutination test (IHA)
▰ Latex agglutination test (LAT)
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Indirect Hemagglutination Test (IHA)
36
▰ Passive agglutination test where RBCs are used as carrier molecules.
▰ IHA was used widely in the past, but is less popular at present.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Latex Agglutination Test (LAT) for Antibody
Detection
37
▰ Polystyrene latex particles (0.8 – 1 µm in diameter) are used as carrier
molecules which are capable of adsorbing several types of antigens.
▰ For better interpretation of result, the test is performed on a black color card.
▰ Drop of patient’s serum (containing antibody) is added to a drop of latex
solution coated with the antigen and the card is rocked.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Latex Agglutination Test (LAT) for Antibody
Detection (Cont..)
38
▰ Positive result is indicated by formation of
visible clumps.
▰ LAT is one of the most widely used tests at
present as it is very simple and rapid.
▰ Used for detection of ASO (antistreptolysin O
antibody).
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Reverse Passive Agglutination Test
(for Antigen Detection)
39
▰ Antibody is coated on a carrier molecule which detects antigen in the
patient’s serum.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Test Carrier molecule Clinical applications
RPHA (Reverse passive
hemagglutination assay)
RBCs  Detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) –
not used now.
Latex agglutination test Latex particles  Detection of CRP (C reactive protein), RA
(rheumatoid arthritis factor), capsular antigen
detection in CSF (for pneumococcus,
meningococcus and Cryptococcus) and
streptococcal grouping.
Reverse Passive Agglutination Test
(for Antigen Detection) (Cont..)
40
▰ Antibody is coated on a carrier molecule which detects antigen in the
patient’s serum.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Test Carrier molecule Clinical applications
Coagglutination test Staphylococcus
aureus
 Used in past for antigen detection test in the past
(e.g. Salmonella antigen detection from blood and
urine).
 Obsolete at present.
Hemagglutination Test
41
▰ Refers to the agglutination tests that use red blood cells (RBCs) as source of
antigen.
▰ Various types of hemagglutination tests include:
 Direct hemagglutination test
 Indirect hemagglutination test
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Direct Hemagglutination Test
42
▰ Serum antibodies directly agglutinate with surface antigens of RBCs to
produce a matt. Examples include-
 Paul Bunnell test
 Cold agglutination test
 Blood grouping
 Coombs test or Antiglobulin test
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Viral Hemagglutination Test
43
▰ In strict sense, it is not an antigen antibody reaction. The hemagglutinin
antigens (HA) present on surface of some viruses
▰ Hemagglutinating viruses (e.g. influenza virus) can agglutinate with the
receptors present on the surface of RBCs.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Technical Issues in Agglutination Reactions
44
▰ Two main problems pertaining to agglutination - can cause false negative
agglutination test.
 Prozone phenomenon
 Blocking antibodies
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
COMPLEMENT FIXATION
TEST
45
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
COMPLEMENT FIXATION TEST
46
▰ Detects the antibodies in patient’s serum that are capable of fixing with
complements. It was once very popular, now is almost obsolete.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
COMPLEMENT FIXATION TEST (Cont..)
47
Applications
▰ Detection of complement fixing antibodies in Rickettsia , Chlamydia ,
Mycoplasma infections and some viral infections, such as arboviruses.
▰ Used for various other serological tests such as: Treponema pallidum
immobilization test and Sabin-Feldman dye test for Toxoplasma.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
NEUTRALIZATION TEST
48
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
NEUTRALIZATION TEST
49
▰ Neutralization tests are also less commonly used in modern days. Various
examples are as follows:
 Viral neutralization test
 Plaque inhibition test
 Toxin–antitoxin neutralization test
 Hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) test
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
NEWER TECHNIQUES
50
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
NEWER TECHNIQUES
51
▰ Uses a detector molecule to label antibody or antigen which in turn detects
the corresponding antigen or the antibody in the sample by producing a visible
effect.
▰ Most of the newer techniques use the same principle, but they differ from
each other by the type of labelled molecule used and the type of visible effect
produced.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Immunoassays and the types of molecule used
for labeling
52
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Abbreviation Immunoassay method Molecules used for labeling Type of visible effect
ELISA Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay Enzyme- substrate- chromogen
complex
Color change is detected by
spectrophotometer
ELFA Enzyme linked fluorescent assay Enzyme- substrate Fluorometric detection
IFA Immunofluorescence Assay Fluorescent dye Emits light, detected by
fluorescence microscope
RIA Radioimmunoassay Radioactive isotope Emits β and γ radiations, detected
by β and γ counters
CLIA Chemiluminescence-linked
immunoassay
Chemiluminescent compounds Emits light, detected by
luminometer
IHC Immunohistochemistry Enzyme or Fluorescent dye Color change (naked eye) or
Fluorescence microscope
Immunoassays and the types of molecule used
for labeling (Cont..)
53
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Abbreviation Immunoassay method Molecules used for labeling Type of visible effect
WB Western blot Enzyme Color band (naked eye)
Rapid test Immunochromatographic test Colloidal gold or silver Color band, (naked eye)
Flow through assay Protein A conjugate Color band, (naked eye)
ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT
ASSAY (ELISA)
54
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT
ASSAY (ELISA)
55
▰ Immunoassay that detects either antigen or antibodies in the specimen, by
using enzyme–substrate– chromogen system for detection.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Principle of ELISA
56
▰ So named because of two of its components-
 Immunosorbent- Absorbing material used (e.g. polystyrene, polyvinyl) that
specifically absorbs the antigen or antibody present in serum.
 Enzyme is used to label one of the components of immunoassay (i.e.
antigen or antibody).
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Substrate-chromogen system
57
▰ Substrate- chromogen system is added at the final step of ELISA.
▰ Enzyme-substrate reaction in turn activates the chromogen to produce a
color.
▰ Sometime, the substrate is chromogenic in nature (e.g. pNPP), on reaction
with the enzyme, it changes its color.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Substrate-chromogen system (Cont..)
58
▰ Color change is detected by spectrophotometry in an ELISA reader.
▰ Intensity of the color is directly proportional to the amount of the detection
molecule (Ag or Ab) present in test serum.
▰ (Ag-Ab complex)-enzyme + substrate → activates the chromogen → color
change → detected by spectrophotometry
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Substrate-chromogen system (Cont..)
59
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
A. ELISA reader (Biorad); B. ELISA washer
Procedure of ELISA
60
▰ Performed on a microtiter plate
containing 96 wells, made up of
polystyrene, polyvinyl or
polycarbonate material.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Procedure of ELISA (Cont..)
61
▰ ELISA kits are commercially available; contain all necessary reagents (such as
enzyme conjugate, dilution buffer, substrate/chromogen, etc).
▰ Procedure involves a series of steps done sequentially; at each step, a reagent
is added - then incubated, followed by washing of the wells [manually or by an
automated ELISA washer.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Types of ELISA
62
▰ Direct ELISA
▰ Indirect ELISA
▰ Sandwich ELISA
▰ IgM Antibody Capture (MAC) ELISA
▰ Competitive ELISA
▰ ELISPOT Test
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Direct ELISA
63
▰ Used for detection of antigen in test serum.
▰ Primary antibody (targeted against the serum antigen) is labeled with the
enzyme.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Direct ELISA (Cont..)
64
▰ Step 1: Wells of microtiter plate are empty, not precoated with Ag or Ab.
▰ Step 2: Test serum (containing antigen) is added into the wells. Antigen
becomes attached to the solid phase by passive adsorption.
▰ Step 3: After washing, the enzyme-labeled primary antibodies (raised in
rabbits) are added.
▰ Step 4: After washing, a substrate–chromogen system is added and color is
measured.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Direct ELISA (Cont..)
65
▰ Well + Ag (test serum) + primary Ab-Enzyme + substrate-chromogen → Color
change
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Indirect ELISA
66
▰ Differs from the direct ELISA in that the secondary antibody (Ab targeted to Fc
region of any human Ig) is labelled with enzyme instead of primary antibody.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Indirect ELISA (Cont..)
67
▰ Step 1: Solid phase of the wells of microtiter plates are precoated with the Ag.
▰ Step 2: Test serum (containing primary Ab specific to the Ag) is added to the
wells. Ab gets attached to the Ag coated on the well
▰ Step 3: After washing, enzyme-labeled secondary Ab (anti-human
immunoglobulin) is added.
▰ Step 4: After washing, a substrate-chromogen system is added and color is
developed.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Indirect ELISA (Cont..)
68
▰ Wells are coated with Ag + primary Ab (test serum) + secondary Ab-Enzyme +
substrate- chromogen → development of color
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Sandwich ELISA
69
▰ Detects the antigen in test serum.
▰ So named because the antigen gets sandwiched between a capture antibody
and a detector antibody.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Sandwich ELISA (Cont..)
70
▰ Step 1: The microtiter well is precoated with the capture antibody (monoclonal
Ab raised in rabbit) targeted against the test antigen
▰ Step 2: The test serum (containing antigen) is added to the wells. Ag gets
attached to the capture antibody coated on the well
▰ Step 3: After washing, an enzyme labeled primary ‘detector antibody’ specific
for the antigen is added.
▰ Step 4: After washing, a substrate–chromogen system is added and color is
developed.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Sandwich ELISA (Cont..)
71
▰ Wells coated with capture Ab + Ag (test serum) + primary Ab-enzyme +
substrate–chromogen → color
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
IgM Antibody Capture (MAC) ELISA
72
▰ Enzymatically amplified sandwich-type immunoassay.
▰ Widely used for dengue, Japanese encephalitis and West Nile virus, scrub
typhus, leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
IgM Antibody Capture (MAC) ELISA (Cont..)
73
▰ Based on capturing primary IgM Ab (in test serum) on a microtiter plate pre-
coated with anti-human-IgM Ab, followed by addition of recombinant antigen
(e.g. dengue antigen).
▰ Subsequently, enzyme labelled secondary antibody specific for the antigen is
added, followed by addition of substrate-chromogen system.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
IgM Antibody Capture (MAC) ELISA (Cont..)
74
▰ Use of avidin-biotin system helps in amplifying the signal generated between
enzyme-antibody complex, thus increases the sensitivity of the assay.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
IgM Antibody Capture (MAC) ELISA (Cont..)
75
▰ Wells coated with capture anti-IgM Ab + IgM Ab (test serum) + recombinant
antigen + secondary Ab-biotin +avidin-enzyme + substrate–chromogen →
color
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Competitive ELISA
76
▰ Antigen in test serum competes with another antigen of the same type coated
on well to bind to the primary antibody.
▰ Step 1: Primary antibody is first incubated in a solution with a serum sample
containing the test antigen.
▰ Step 2: Antigen–antibody mixture is then added to the microtiter well
precoated with the same type of antigen.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Competitive ELISA (Cont..)
77
▰ Step 3: Free antibodies bind to the antigen coated on the well. More the test
antigens present in the sample, lesser free antibodies will be available to bind
to the antigens coated onto well
▰ Step 4: After washing (to remove free antibodies and antigens), enzyme-
conjugated secondary antibody is added
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Competitive ELISA (Cont..)
78
▰ Step 5: After washing, a substrate–
chromogen system is added and
color is developed. Intensity of the
color is inversely proportional to
the amount of antigen present in
the test serum
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
ELISPOT Test
79
▰ Modification of ELISA that allows the quantitative detection of cells producing
antibodies (plasma cells) or cytokines (e.g. lymphocytes or macrophages).
▰ ELISPOT is currently used in IGRA (interferon gamma assay), for diagnosis of
latent tuberculosis; where the sensitized T cells capable of producing the IFN-
γ are measured.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
IgG Avidity ELISA
80
▰ Useful for differentiating recent from past infection.
▰ Usually, recent and past infections are differentiated by presence of IgM and
IgG antibodies respectively.
▰ In situations where both the antibodies are present, IgG avidity test is useful
to differentiate recent from past infection.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
IgG Avidity ELISA (Cont..)
81
Principle:
▰ Avidity of an antibody indicates how firmly it is bound with its antigen.
▰ Reflects the maturity of the antibodies; which usually increases with time.
▰ Detection of low avidity IgG indicates recent infection.
▰ Past infection high avidity IgG will be detected.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
IgG Avidity ELISA
82
Applications:
Diagnosis of - rubella, CMV, VZV, toxoplasm
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Advantages of ELISA
83
▰ Method of choice for detection of antigens/ antibodies in serum in modern
days, especially in big laboratories as large number of samples can be tested
together using the 96 well microtiter plate.
▰ Economical, takes 2–3 hours for performing the assay.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Advantages of ELISA (Cont..)
84
▰ ELISA has a high sensitivity - that is why, it is commonly used for performing
screening test at blood banks and tertiary care sites.
▰ Specificity used to be low - but now, with use of more purified recombinant
and synthetic antigens, and monoclonal antibodies, ELISA has become more
specific.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Disadvantages of ELISA
85
▰ In small laboratories having less sample load - ELISA is less preferred than
rapid tests as the latter can be done on individual samples.
▰ Takes more time (2–3 hours) compared to rapid tests , which take 10–20
minutes
▰ Needs expensive equipment such as ELISA washer and reader.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Applications of ELISA
86
▰ ELISA used for antigen detection -hepatitis B [hepatitis B surface antigen
(HBsAg) and precore antigen (HBeAg)], NS1 antigen for dengue etc.
▰ ELISA can also be used for antibody detection against hepatitis B, hepatitis C,
HIV, dengue, EBV, HSV, toxoplasmosis, leishmaniasis, etc.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
ENZYME-LINKED FLUORESCENT
ASSAY (ELFA)
87
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
ENZYME-LINKED FLUORESCENT ASSAY (ELFA)
88
▰ Modification of ELISA, differs from ELISA in two ways:
 Automated system, all steps are performed by the instrument.
 Ag-Ab-enzyme complex is detected by fluorometric method.
▰ VIDAS and mini VIDAS (bioMérieux) are commercially available systems
based on ELFA technology.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
ENZYME-LINKED FLUORESCENT ASSAY (ELFA)
(Cont..)
89
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
ENZYME-LINKED FLUORESCENT ASSAY (ELFA)
(Cont..)
90
Procedure:
▰ The solid phase receptacle present in reagent strip (equivalent to wells in
microtiter plate in ELISA) serves as the solid phase; which is either coated
with capture antigen (for antibody detection) or antibody (for antigen
detection).
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
ENZYME-LINKED FLUORESCENT ASSAY (ELFA)
(Cont..)
91
Procedure (Cont..):
▰ Conjugate used here is either an antigen or antibody labeled with enzyme
alkaline phosphatase and the substrate used is 4-methyl-umbelliferyl
phosphate.
▰ Following Ag-Ab-enzyme conjugate complex formation; the excess of enzyme
conjugate are washed out.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
ENZYME-LINKED FLUORESCENT ASSAY (ELFA)
(Cont..)
92
Procedure (Cont..):
▰ Then the conjugate enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of this substrate into a
fluorescent product (4-methylumbelliferone), the fluorescence of which is
measured at 450 nm.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
ENZYME-LINKED FLUORESCENT ASSAY (ELFA)
(Cont..)
93
Procedure (Cont..):
▰ Intensity of the fluorescence depends on the concentration of alkaline
phosphatase present which in turn depends upon the amount of analytate
(target Ag or Ab) in the sample.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
ENZYME-LINKED FLUORESCENT ASSAY (ELFA)
(Cont..)
94
Advantages: It has many advantages over ELISA:
(i) an automated system,
(ii) easy to perform and user friendly,
(iii) less contamination chance,
(iv) gives quantitative results and
(v) more sensitive and specific
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
ENZYME-LINKED FLUORESCENT ASSAY (ELFA)
(Cont..)
95
Disadvantages:
(i) Expensive,
(ii) can run only 12–24 number of tests at a time,
(iii) can run 2–4 types of tests at a time
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
ENZYME-LINKED FLUORESCENT ASSAY (ELFA)
(Cont..)
96
Use:
▰ Infectious diseases: Markers of hepatitis viruses and HIV (Ag and Ab), Ab to
TORCH infection, measles, mumps, varicella, H. pylori and antigen to C.
difficile, Rotavirus, etc.
▰ Other uses: Biomarkers (e.g. procalcitonin), hormones (e.g. thyroid), tumor
markers, cardiac markers and screening for allergy.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE ASSAY
(IFA)
97
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE ASSAY (IFA)
98
▰ Technique similar to ELISA, but differs by some important features:
 Fluorescent dye is used instead of enzyme for labelling of antibody.
 Detects cell surface antigens or antibodies bound to cell surface antigens,
unlike ELISA which detects free antigen or antibody.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Principle
99
▰ Fluorescence refers to absorbing high energy-shorter wavelength ultraviolet
light rays by the fluorescent compounds and in turn emitting visible light rays
with a low energy-longer wavelength.
▰ Fluorescent dye is used to conjugate the antibody and such labeled antibody
can be used to detect the antigens or antigen–antibody complexes on the cell
surface.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Types
100
▰ Direct Immunofluorescence Assay
▰ Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Direct Immunofluorescence Assay
101
▰ Step 1: Sample containing cells carrying surface antigens is smeared on a
slide
▰ Step 2: Primary antibody specific to the antigen, tagged with fluorescent dye
is added
▰ Step 3: Slide is washed to remove the unbound antibodies and then viewed
under a fluorescence microscope
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Direct Immunofluorescence Assay (Cont..)
102
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay
103
▰ Detects antibodies in sample. Slides smeared with cells carrying known
antigens are commercially available.
▰ Step 1: Test serum containing primary antibody is added to the slide
▰ Step 2: Slide is washed to remove the unbound antibodies. A secondary
antibody (antihuman antibody conjugated with fluorescent dye) is added
▰ Step 3: Slide is washed and then viewed under a fluorescence microscope
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (Cont..)
104
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (Cont..)
105
Applications:
▰ Detection of autoantibodies (e.g. antinuclear antibody) in autoimmune
diseases
▰ Detecting microbial antigens, e.g. rabies antigen in corneal smear
▰ Detection of viral antigens in cell lines inoculated with the specimens.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Flow Cytometry
106
▰ Laser-based technology that quantitatively analyses and separates the cells
as they pass through the laser beam.
▰ Used to analyze multiple parameters of cells (e.g. leukocytes) such as cell
counting, cell sorting, analysis of size, shape, granularity, DNA or RNA content
of a cell, etc
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Flow Cytometry
107
Applications:
▰ CD4 T cell count in HIV infected patients
▰ Detection of leukocytes with specific markers for the diagnosis of various
lymphomas.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY
108
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY
109
▰ Process of detecting antigens (e.g. proteins) in cells of a tissue section by
exploiting the principle of using labelled antibodies binding specifically to the
antigens in biological tissues.
▰ Based on principles of ELISA or IFA
▰ Widely used in the diagnosis of abnormal cells (e.g. tumor cells).
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
CHEMILUMINESCENCE-LINKED
IMMUNOASSAY
(CLIA)
110
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
CHEMILUMINESCENCE-LINKED IMMUNOASSAY
(CLIA)
111
▰ Emission of light (luminescence), as a result of a chemical reaction.
▰ Principle: similar to that of ELISA; however the chromogenic substance is
replaced by chemiluminescent compounds (e.g. luminol and acridinium ester)
that generate light during a chemical reaction (luxogenic).
▰ Light (photons) can be detected by a photomultiplier, also called as
luminometer.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
CHEMILUMINESCENCE-LINKED IMMUNOASSAY
(CLIA)
112
▰ (Ag-Ab complex)-enzyme (e.g. HRP) + chemiluminescent substrate (e.g.
luminol and acridinium ester) → product+ light (photons) → detected by
luminometer or photomultiplier.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Advantages of CLIA
113
▰ 10 times more sensitive than ELISA.
▰ Further modified by using an enhancer that potentiates the chemical reaction.
▰ Most samples have no 'background' signal, i.e. luminol compounds do not
themselves emit light.
▰ Measurement of chemiluminescence is not a ratio unlike the measurement of
fluorescence (IFA) and or color (ELISA).
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Applications
114
▰ Has limited applications in diagnostic microbiology compared to ELISA.
▰ Available for detection of antigens or antibodies against various infections
such as hepatitis viruses, HIV, TORCH infections and biomarkers such as
procalcitonin.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
WESTERN BLOT
115
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
WESTERN BLOT
116
▰ Western blot detects specific proteins (antibodies) in a sample containing
mixture of antibodies each targeted against different antigens of same
microbe.
▰ Southern blot - detects DNA fragments.
▰ Northern blot - detects mRNAs.
▰ Eastern blot - detects the carbohydrate epitopes present on proteins or lipids.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Procedure
117
Comprises of three basic components:
▰ SDS PAGE
▰ NCM blotting
▰ Enzyme immunoassay
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Applications
118
▰ Excellent specificity.
▰ Used as a supplementary test to confirm the result of ELISA or other
immunoassays having higher sensitivity.
▰ Western blot formats are available to detect antibody in various diseases
such as HIV, Lyme’s disease, Herpes simplex virus infection, cysticercosis,
hydatid disease and toxoplasmosis.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Applications
119
▰ Excellent specificity.
▰ Used as a supplementary test to confirm the result of ELISA or other
immunoassays having higher sensitivity.
▰ Western blot formats are available to detect antibody in various diseases
such as HIV, Lyme’s disease, Herpes simplex virus infection, cysticercosis,
hydatid disease and toxoplasmosis.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
RAPID TESTS
120
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
RAPID TESTS
121
▰ Point of care (POC) tests, because unlike ELISA and other immunoassays, the
Point of Care tests can be performed independent of laboratory equipment
and deliver instant results.
▰ Two principles of rapid tests are available:
 Lateral flow assay
 Flow through assay.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
RAPID TESTS (Cont..)
122
▰ Both the formats are available for the diagnosis of various diseases such as
malaria, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, leptospirosis, Helicobacter pylori, syphilis,
etc.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Immunochromatographic Test
(Lateral Flow Assay)
123
▰ Based on lateral flow technique.
▰ Widely used in diagnostic laboratories because of its simplicity, low-cost and
rapidity.
▰ It can be used for both antigen and antibody detection in sample.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Principle of ICT (Antigen Detection)
124
▰ The test system consists of a
nitrocellulose membrane (NCM) and an
absorbent pad.
▰ Two formats are available: cassette or
strip.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Principle of ICT (Antigen Detection) (Cont..)
125
▰ Test band: At the test line, the Ag-labeled Ab complex is immobilized by
binding to the monoclonal Ab in the test line to form a colored band
▰ Control band: The free colloidal gold labeled Ab can move further and binds to
the anti-human Ig to form a color control band.
▰ If the control band is not formed, then the test is considered invalid
irrespective of whether the test band is formed or not
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Flow-through Assay
126
▰ Flow-through tests are another type of rapid diagnostic assays which differ
from ICT in two aspects:
 Protein A is used for labeling antibody instead of gold conjugate.
 Sample flows vertically through the nitrocellulose membrane (NCM) as
compared to lateral flow in ICT.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Flow-through Assay (Cont..)
127
▰ Flow-through tests can be used for both antigen and antibody detection. HIV
TRIDOT test is a classical example.
▰ Detects antibodies to HIV-I and II separately in patient’s serum.
▰ Test system is in a cassette format, consisting of a NCM and an absorbent
pad.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Flow-through Assay (Cont..)
128
▰ The NCM is coated at three regions
▰ Sample and buffer reagents are added sequentially from the top following
which they pass through the membrane and excess fluid is absorbed into the
underlying absorbent pad.
▰ As the patient’s sample passes through the membrane, HIV antibodies, if
present bind to the immobilized antigens.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Flow-through Assay (Cont..)
129
▰ Test dots- Protein-A conjugate (present in buffer) binds to the Fc portion of
the HIV antibodies to give distinct pinkish purple DOT(s), separately for HIV-1
and 2 antibodies.
▰ Control dot- Irrespective of whether the HIV antibodies are present or not,
Protein-A can bind to any IgG present in serum and the IgG-protein A complex
can further bind to the antihuman Ig at the control line to give a pinkish purple
DOT.
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Questions:
130
▰ Q1. Nagler reaction is example of:
a. Precipitation
b. CFT
c. Agglutination
d. Neutralization
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Questions:
131
▰ Q2. All are agglutination reactions, except:
a. VDRL test
b. Standard agglutination test
c. Widal test
d. Paul Bunnell test
Essentials of Medical Microbiology
Questions:
132
▰ Q3. The following methods of diagnosis utilize labeled antibodies, except:
a. ELISA
b. Chemiluminescence-linked immunoassay
c. Hemagglutination inhibition test
d. Immunofluorescence
Essentials of Medical Microbiology

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chapter-12-Antigen–Antibody-Reaction.pptx

  • 2. Learning objectives 2 At the end of the session, the students will be able to understand: ▰ General properties of antigen antibody reactions ▰ Types of antigen antibody reactions ▰ Conventional immunoassays ▰ Newer techniques Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 3. ANTIGEN–ANTIBODY REACTION 3 ▰ Bimolecular association where the antigen and antibody combine with each other specifically and in an observable manner .  Similar to an enzyme-substrate interaction.  Only difference is, it does not lead to an irreversible alteration in either antibody or in antigen. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 4. GENERAL PROPERTIES OF ANTIGEN - ANTIBODY REACTIONS 4 Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 5. Specific 5 ▰ Specific interaction between epitope of an antigen with the corresponding paratope of its homologous antibody. ▰ Exception- cross reactions which may occur due to sharing of epitopes among different antigens. ▰ In such cases, antibody against one antigen can cross react with a similar epitope of a different antigen. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 6. Noncovalent Interactions 6 ▰ Union of antigen and antibody requires formation of large number of non- covalent interactions between them such as:  Hydrogen bonds  Electrostatic interactions  Hydrophobic interactions  Van der Waals forces. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 7. Strength 7 ▰ The strength or the firmness of the association is influenced by the affinity and avidity of the antigen–antibody interaction. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 8. Affinity 8 ▰ Refers to the sum total of noncovalent interactions between a single epitope of an antigen with its corresponding paratope present on antibody. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 9. Avidity 9 ▰ Term used to describe the affinities of all the binding sites when multivalent antibody reacts with a complex antigen carrying multiple epitopes. ▰ Total strength (i.e. avidity) would be much higher than the individual affinity at each binding site - but lower than the sum of all affinities. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 10. Avidity (Cont..) 10 ▰ Geometry of the multivalent antibody gets stretched when it reacts with a complex antigen, as it has to reach and accommodate all the epitopes - resulting in less optimal binding interactions ▰ Avidity is a better indicator of strength of an antigen-antibody reaction. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 11. Diagnostic Use 11 Diagnostic Use: ▰ Specific and observable ▰ Diagnostic tests based on antigen-antibody reactions are called as immunoassays ▰ Immunoassays can be broadly categorized into two types-  Antigen detection assays  Antibody detection assays Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 12. Qualitative vs Quantitative Immunoassays 12 ▰ Immunoassays can be performed by both qualitative and quantitative methods. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 13. Qualitative Assays 13 ▰ Undiluted specimen containing the antibody is directly mixed with the suspension of antigen or vice versa. ▰ Result is read as ‘positive’ or ‘negative’ based on presence or absence of antigen or antibody in the clinical specimen. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 14. Quantitative Assays 14 ▰ When the qualitative test turns positive, the exact amount of antibody in serum can be estimated by serial dilution of the patient’s serum and mixing each dilution of the serum with a known quantity of antigen. ▰ Measurement of antibody is expressed in terms of titer. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 15. Quantitative Assays (Cont..) 15 ▰ Quantitative tests are more reliable as they can differentiate between true negative and falsenegative results. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 16. Marrack’s Lattice Hypothesis 16 ▰ Ag-Ab reaction is weak or fails to occur when the number of antigen and antibodies are not proportionate to each other. ▰ Prozone phenomenon - In the earlier test tubes, antibodies are excess, hence the Ag-Ab reaction does not occur. ▰ Post zone phenomenon - In the later test tubes, antigen is excess, hence the Ag-Ab reaction fails to occur. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 17. Marrack’s Lattice Hypothesis (Cont..) 17 ▰ In prozone/post zone - Lattice does not enlarge, due to inhibition of lattice formation by the excess antibody or antigen respectively, as the valencies of the antibody and the antigen respectively, are fully satisfied. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 18. Evaluation of Immunoassays 18 ▰ Sensitivity and specificity are the two most important statistical parameters. ▰ Sensitivity is defined as ability of a test to identify correctly all those who have the disease i.e. true positives. ▰ Sensitivity is calculated as = True positives True positives + False negatives Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 19. Evaluation of Immunoassays (Cont..) 19 ▰ Specificity is defined as ability of a test to identify correctly all those who do not have disease i.e. true negatives. ▰ Specificity is calculated as = True negatives True negatives + False positives Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 21. TYPES OF ANTIGEN–ANTIBODY REACTIONS 21 Essentials of Medical Microbiology Conventional techniques -  Precipitation reaction  Agglutination reaction  Complement fixation test  Neutralization test Newer techniques -  Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)  Enzyme linked fluorescent assay (ELISA)  Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA)  Chemiluminescence-linked immunoassay (CLIA)  Immunohistochemistry  Rapid tests-  Lateral flow assay (Immunochromatographic test)  Flow through assay  Western blot  Immunoassays using electron microscope
  • 24. PRECIPITATION REACTION 24 ▰ Definition-When a soluble antigen reacts with its antibody in the presence of optimal temperature, pH and electrolytes (NaCl), it leads to formation of the antigen-antibody complex in the form of:  Insoluble precipitate band when gel containing medium is used or  Insoluble floccules when liquid medium is used (precipitate remains suspended as floccules) Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 25. Clinical Applications 25 ▰ Slide Flocculation Test (for Syphilis)  Examples - VDRL (Venereal Disease Research Laboratory) and RPR (Rapid Plasma Reagin) tests ▰ Elek’s Gel Precipitation Test ( Detecting Diphtheria Toxin) Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 27. AGGLUTINATION REACTION 27 Definition ▰ When a particulate or insoluble antigen is mixed with its antibody in the presence of electrolytes at a suitable temperature and pH, the particles are clumped or agglutinated. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 28. AGGLUTINATION REACTION (Cont..) 28 Advantage: ▰ More sensitive than precipitation test and the ▰ Clumps are better visualized and interpreted as compared to bands or floccules. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 29. AGGLUTINATION REACTION (Cont..) 29 Applications: ▰ Classified as direct, indirect (passive) and reverse passive agglutination reactions. ▰ All these agglutination tests are performed - on a slide, or in tube or in card or sometimes in microtiter plates. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 30. Direct Agglutination Test 30 The antigen directly agglutinates with the antibody. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 31. Slide Agglutination 31 ▰ Performed to confirm the identification and serotyping of bacterial colonies grown in culture. ▰ Method used for blood grouping and cross matching. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 32. Tube Agglutination 32 ▰ Standard quantitative test for estimating antibody in serum. ▰ Antibody titer can be estimated as the highest dilution of the serum which produces a visible agglutination. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 33. Tube agglutination- Applications 33 ▰ Typhoid fever (Widal test) ▰ Acute brucellosis (Standard agglutination test) ▰ Coombs Antiglobulin test (see below) ▰ Heterophile agglutination tests:  Typhus fever (Weil Felix reaction)  Infectious mononucleosis (Paul Bunnell test)  Mycoplasma pneumonia (Cold agglutination test) Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 34. Microscopic Agglutination 34 ▰ Agglutination test is performed on a microtiter plate. ▰ Result is read under a microscope. ▰ MAT is done for leptospirosis. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 35. Indirect or Passive Agglutination Test (for Antibody Detection) 35 ▰ Indirect hemagglutination test (IHA) ▰ Latex agglutination test (LAT) Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 36. Indirect Hemagglutination Test (IHA) 36 ▰ Passive agglutination test where RBCs are used as carrier molecules. ▰ IHA was used widely in the past, but is less popular at present. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 37. Latex Agglutination Test (LAT) for Antibody Detection 37 ▰ Polystyrene latex particles (0.8 – 1 µm in diameter) are used as carrier molecules which are capable of adsorbing several types of antigens. ▰ For better interpretation of result, the test is performed on a black color card. ▰ Drop of patient’s serum (containing antibody) is added to a drop of latex solution coated with the antigen and the card is rocked. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 38. Latex Agglutination Test (LAT) for Antibody Detection (Cont..) 38 ▰ Positive result is indicated by formation of visible clumps. ▰ LAT is one of the most widely used tests at present as it is very simple and rapid. ▰ Used for detection of ASO (antistreptolysin O antibody). Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 39. Reverse Passive Agglutination Test (for Antigen Detection) 39 ▰ Antibody is coated on a carrier molecule which detects antigen in the patient’s serum. Essentials of Medical Microbiology Test Carrier molecule Clinical applications RPHA (Reverse passive hemagglutination assay) RBCs  Detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) – not used now. Latex agglutination test Latex particles  Detection of CRP (C reactive protein), RA (rheumatoid arthritis factor), capsular antigen detection in CSF (for pneumococcus, meningococcus and Cryptococcus) and streptococcal grouping.
  • 40. Reverse Passive Agglutination Test (for Antigen Detection) (Cont..) 40 ▰ Antibody is coated on a carrier molecule which detects antigen in the patient’s serum. Essentials of Medical Microbiology Test Carrier molecule Clinical applications Coagglutination test Staphylococcus aureus  Used in past for antigen detection test in the past (e.g. Salmonella antigen detection from blood and urine).  Obsolete at present.
  • 41. Hemagglutination Test 41 ▰ Refers to the agglutination tests that use red blood cells (RBCs) as source of antigen. ▰ Various types of hemagglutination tests include:  Direct hemagglutination test  Indirect hemagglutination test Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 42. Direct Hemagglutination Test 42 ▰ Serum antibodies directly agglutinate with surface antigens of RBCs to produce a matt. Examples include-  Paul Bunnell test  Cold agglutination test  Blood grouping  Coombs test or Antiglobulin test Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 43. Viral Hemagglutination Test 43 ▰ In strict sense, it is not an antigen antibody reaction. The hemagglutinin antigens (HA) present on surface of some viruses ▰ Hemagglutinating viruses (e.g. influenza virus) can agglutinate with the receptors present on the surface of RBCs. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 44. Technical Issues in Agglutination Reactions 44 ▰ Two main problems pertaining to agglutination - can cause false negative agglutination test.  Prozone phenomenon  Blocking antibodies Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 46. COMPLEMENT FIXATION TEST 46 ▰ Detects the antibodies in patient’s serum that are capable of fixing with complements. It was once very popular, now is almost obsolete. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 47. COMPLEMENT FIXATION TEST (Cont..) 47 Applications ▰ Detection of complement fixing antibodies in Rickettsia , Chlamydia , Mycoplasma infections and some viral infections, such as arboviruses. ▰ Used for various other serological tests such as: Treponema pallidum immobilization test and Sabin-Feldman dye test for Toxoplasma. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 48. NEUTRALIZATION TEST 48 Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 49. NEUTRALIZATION TEST 49 ▰ Neutralization tests are also less commonly used in modern days. Various examples are as follows:  Viral neutralization test  Plaque inhibition test  Toxin–antitoxin neutralization test  Hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) test Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 50. NEWER TECHNIQUES 50 Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 51. NEWER TECHNIQUES 51 ▰ Uses a detector molecule to label antibody or antigen which in turn detects the corresponding antigen or the antibody in the sample by producing a visible effect. ▰ Most of the newer techniques use the same principle, but they differ from each other by the type of labelled molecule used and the type of visible effect produced. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 52. Immunoassays and the types of molecule used for labeling 52 Essentials of Medical Microbiology Abbreviation Immunoassay method Molecules used for labeling Type of visible effect ELISA Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay Enzyme- substrate- chromogen complex Color change is detected by spectrophotometer ELFA Enzyme linked fluorescent assay Enzyme- substrate Fluorometric detection IFA Immunofluorescence Assay Fluorescent dye Emits light, detected by fluorescence microscope RIA Radioimmunoassay Radioactive isotope Emits β and γ radiations, detected by β and γ counters CLIA Chemiluminescence-linked immunoassay Chemiluminescent compounds Emits light, detected by luminometer IHC Immunohistochemistry Enzyme or Fluorescent dye Color change (naked eye) or Fluorescence microscope
  • 53. Immunoassays and the types of molecule used for labeling (Cont..) 53 Essentials of Medical Microbiology Abbreviation Immunoassay method Molecules used for labeling Type of visible effect WB Western blot Enzyme Color band (naked eye) Rapid test Immunochromatographic test Colloidal gold or silver Color band, (naked eye) Flow through assay Protein A conjugate Color band, (naked eye)
  • 55. ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY (ELISA) 55 ▰ Immunoassay that detects either antigen or antibodies in the specimen, by using enzyme–substrate– chromogen system for detection. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 56. Principle of ELISA 56 ▰ So named because of two of its components-  Immunosorbent- Absorbing material used (e.g. polystyrene, polyvinyl) that specifically absorbs the antigen or antibody present in serum.  Enzyme is used to label one of the components of immunoassay (i.e. antigen or antibody). Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 57. Substrate-chromogen system 57 ▰ Substrate- chromogen system is added at the final step of ELISA. ▰ Enzyme-substrate reaction in turn activates the chromogen to produce a color. ▰ Sometime, the substrate is chromogenic in nature (e.g. pNPP), on reaction with the enzyme, it changes its color. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 58. Substrate-chromogen system (Cont..) 58 ▰ Color change is detected by spectrophotometry in an ELISA reader. ▰ Intensity of the color is directly proportional to the amount of the detection molecule (Ag or Ab) present in test serum. ▰ (Ag-Ab complex)-enzyme + substrate → activates the chromogen → color change → detected by spectrophotometry Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 59. Substrate-chromogen system (Cont..) 59 Essentials of Medical Microbiology A. ELISA reader (Biorad); B. ELISA washer
  • 60. Procedure of ELISA 60 ▰ Performed on a microtiter plate containing 96 wells, made up of polystyrene, polyvinyl or polycarbonate material. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 61. Procedure of ELISA (Cont..) 61 ▰ ELISA kits are commercially available; contain all necessary reagents (such as enzyme conjugate, dilution buffer, substrate/chromogen, etc). ▰ Procedure involves a series of steps done sequentially; at each step, a reagent is added - then incubated, followed by washing of the wells [manually or by an automated ELISA washer. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 62. Types of ELISA 62 ▰ Direct ELISA ▰ Indirect ELISA ▰ Sandwich ELISA ▰ IgM Antibody Capture (MAC) ELISA ▰ Competitive ELISA ▰ ELISPOT Test Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 63. Direct ELISA 63 ▰ Used for detection of antigen in test serum. ▰ Primary antibody (targeted against the serum antigen) is labeled with the enzyme. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 64. Direct ELISA (Cont..) 64 ▰ Step 1: Wells of microtiter plate are empty, not precoated with Ag or Ab. ▰ Step 2: Test serum (containing antigen) is added into the wells. Antigen becomes attached to the solid phase by passive adsorption. ▰ Step 3: After washing, the enzyme-labeled primary antibodies (raised in rabbits) are added. ▰ Step 4: After washing, a substrate–chromogen system is added and color is measured. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 65. Direct ELISA (Cont..) 65 ▰ Well + Ag (test serum) + primary Ab-Enzyme + substrate-chromogen → Color change Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 66. Indirect ELISA 66 ▰ Differs from the direct ELISA in that the secondary antibody (Ab targeted to Fc region of any human Ig) is labelled with enzyme instead of primary antibody. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 67. Indirect ELISA (Cont..) 67 ▰ Step 1: Solid phase of the wells of microtiter plates are precoated with the Ag. ▰ Step 2: Test serum (containing primary Ab specific to the Ag) is added to the wells. Ab gets attached to the Ag coated on the well ▰ Step 3: After washing, enzyme-labeled secondary Ab (anti-human immunoglobulin) is added. ▰ Step 4: After washing, a substrate-chromogen system is added and color is developed. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 68. Indirect ELISA (Cont..) 68 ▰ Wells are coated with Ag + primary Ab (test serum) + secondary Ab-Enzyme + substrate- chromogen → development of color Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 69. Sandwich ELISA 69 ▰ Detects the antigen in test serum. ▰ So named because the antigen gets sandwiched between a capture antibody and a detector antibody. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 70. Sandwich ELISA (Cont..) 70 ▰ Step 1: The microtiter well is precoated with the capture antibody (monoclonal Ab raised in rabbit) targeted against the test antigen ▰ Step 2: The test serum (containing antigen) is added to the wells. Ag gets attached to the capture antibody coated on the well ▰ Step 3: After washing, an enzyme labeled primary ‘detector antibody’ specific for the antigen is added. ▰ Step 4: After washing, a substrate–chromogen system is added and color is developed. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 71. Sandwich ELISA (Cont..) 71 ▰ Wells coated with capture Ab + Ag (test serum) + primary Ab-enzyme + substrate–chromogen → color Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 72. IgM Antibody Capture (MAC) ELISA 72 ▰ Enzymatically amplified sandwich-type immunoassay. ▰ Widely used for dengue, Japanese encephalitis and West Nile virus, scrub typhus, leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 73. IgM Antibody Capture (MAC) ELISA (Cont..) 73 ▰ Based on capturing primary IgM Ab (in test serum) on a microtiter plate pre- coated with anti-human-IgM Ab, followed by addition of recombinant antigen (e.g. dengue antigen). ▰ Subsequently, enzyme labelled secondary antibody specific for the antigen is added, followed by addition of substrate-chromogen system. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 74. IgM Antibody Capture (MAC) ELISA (Cont..) 74 ▰ Use of avidin-biotin system helps in amplifying the signal generated between enzyme-antibody complex, thus increases the sensitivity of the assay. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 75. IgM Antibody Capture (MAC) ELISA (Cont..) 75 ▰ Wells coated with capture anti-IgM Ab + IgM Ab (test serum) + recombinant antigen + secondary Ab-biotin +avidin-enzyme + substrate–chromogen → color Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 76. Competitive ELISA 76 ▰ Antigen in test serum competes with another antigen of the same type coated on well to bind to the primary antibody. ▰ Step 1: Primary antibody is first incubated in a solution with a serum sample containing the test antigen. ▰ Step 2: Antigen–antibody mixture is then added to the microtiter well precoated with the same type of antigen. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 77. Competitive ELISA (Cont..) 77 ▰ Step 3: Free antibodies bind to the antigen coated on the well. More the test antigens present in the sample, lesser free antibodies will be available to bind to the antigens coated onto well ▰ Step 4: After washing (to remove free antibodies and antigens), enzyme- conjugated secondary antibody is added Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 78. Competitive ELISA (Cont..) 78 ▰ Step 5: After washing, a substrate– chromogen system is added and color is developed. Intensity of the color is inversely proportional to the amount of antigen present in the test serum Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 79. ELISPOT Test 79 ▰ Modification of ELISA that allows the quantitative detection of cells producing antibodies (plasma cells) or cytokines (e.g. lymphocytes or macrophages). ▰ ELISPOT is currently used in IGRA (interferon gamma assay), for diagnosis of latent tuberculosis; where the sensitized T cells capable of producing the IFN- γ are measured. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 80. IgG Avidity ELISA 80 ▰ Useful for differentiating recent from past infection. ▰ Usually, recent and past infections are differentiated by presence of IgM and IgG antibodies respectively. ▰ In situations where both the antibodies are present, IgG avidity test is useful to differentiate recent from past infection. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 81. IgG Avidity ELISA (Cont..) 81 Principle: ▰ Avidity of an antibody indicates how firmly it is bound with its antigen. ▰ Reflects the maturity of the antibodies; which usually increases with time. ▰ Detection of low avidity IgG indicates recent infection. ▰ Past infection high avidity IgG will be detected. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 82. IgG Avidity ELISA 82 Applications: Diagnosis of - rubella, CMV, VZV, toxoplasm Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 83. Advantages of ELISA 83 ▰ Method of choice for detection of antigens/ antibodies in serum in modern days, especially in big laboratories as large number of samples can be tested together using the 96 well microtiter plate. ▰ Economical, takes 2–3 hours for performing the assay. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 84. Advantages of ELISA (Cont..) 84 ▰ ELISA has a high sensitivity - that is why, it is commonly used for performing screening test at blood banks and tertiary care sites. ▰ Specificity used to be low - but now, with use of more purified recombinant and synthetic antigens, and monoclonal antibodies, ELISA has become more specific. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 85. Disadvantages of ELISA 85 ▰ In small laboratories having less sample load - ELISA is less preferred than rapid tests as the latter can be done on individual samples. ▰ Takes more time (2–3 hours) compared to rapid tests , which take 10–20 minutes ▰ Needs expensive equipment such as ELISA washer and reader. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 86. Applications of ELISA 86 ▰ ELISA used for antigen detection -hepatitis B [hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and precore antigen (HBeAg)], NS1 antigen for dengue etc. ▰ ELISA can also be used for antibody detection against hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, dengue, EBV, HSV, toxoplasmosis, leishmaniasis, etc. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 88. ENZYME-LINKED FLUORESCENT ASSAY (ELFA) 88 ▰ Modification of ELISA, differs from ELISA in two ways:  Automated system, all steps are performed by the instrument.  Ag-Ab-enzyme complex is detected by fluorometric method. ▰ VIDAS and mini VIDAS (bioMérieux) are commercially available systems based on ELFA technology. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 89. ENZYME-LINKED FLUORESCENT ASSAY (ELFA) (Cont..) 89 Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 90. ENZYME-LINKED FLUORESCENT ASSAY (ELFA) (Cont..) 90 Procedure: ▰ The solid phase receptacle present in reagent strip (equivalent to wells in microtiter plate in ELISA) serves as the solid phase; which is either coated with capture antigen (for antibody detection) or antibody (for antigen detection). Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 91. ENZYME-LINKED FLUORESCENT ASSAY (ELFA) (Cont..) 91 Procedure (Cont..): ▰ Conjugate used here is either an antigen or antibody labeled with enzyme alkaline phosphatase and the substrate used is 4-methyl-umbelliferyl phosphate. ▰ Following Ag-Ab-enzyme conjugate complex formation; the excess of enzyme conjugate are washed out. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 92. ENZYME-LINKED FLUORESCENT ASSAY (ELFA) (Cont..) 92 Procedure (Cont..): ▰ Then the conjugate enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of this substrate into a fluorescent product (4-methylumbelliferone), the fluorescence of which is measured at 450 nm. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 93. ENZYME-LINKED FLUORESCENT ASSAY (ELFA) (Cont..) 93 Procedure (Cont..): ▰ Intensity of the fluorescence depends on the concentration of alkaline phosphatase present which in turn depends upon the amount of analytate (target Ag or Ab) in the sample. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 94. ENZYME-LINKED FLUORESCENT ASSAY (ELFA) (Cont..) 94 Advantages: It has many advantages over ELISA: (i) an automated system, (ii) easy to perform and user friendly, (iii) less contamination chance, (iv) gives quantitative results and (v) more sensitive and specific Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 95. ENZYME-LINKED FLUORESCENT ASSAY (ELFA) (Cont..) 95 Disadvantages: (i) Expensive, (ii) can run only 12–24 number of tests at a time, (iii) can run 2–4 types of tests at a time Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 96. ENZYME-LINKED FLUORESCENT ASSAY (ELFA) (Cont..) 96 Use: ▰ Infectious diseases: Markers of hepatitis viruses and HIV (Ag and Ab), Ab to TORCH infection, measles, mumps, varicella, H. pylori and antigen to C. difficile, Rotavirus, etc. ▰ Other uses: Biomarkers (e.g. procalcitonin), hormones (e.g. thyroid), tumor markers, cardiac markers and screening for allergy. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 98. IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE ASSAY (IFA) 98 ▰ Technique similar to ELISA, but differs by some important features:  Fluorescent dye is used instead of enzyme for labelling of antibody.  Detects cell surface antigens or antibodies bound to cell surface antigens, unlike ELISA which detects free antigen or antibody. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 99. Principle 99 ▰ Fluorescence refers to absorbing high energy-shorter wavelength ultraviolet light rays by the fluorescent compounds and in turn emitting visible light rays with a low energy-longer wavelength. ▰ Fluorescent dye is used to conjugate the antibody and such labeled antibody can be used to detect the antigens or antigen–antibody complexes on the cell surface. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 100. Types 100 ▰ Direct Immunofluorescence Assay ▰ Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 101. Direct Immunofluorescence Assay 101 ▰ Step 1: Sample containing cells carrying surface antigens is smeared on a slide ▰ Step 2: Primary antibody specific to the antigen, tagged with fluorescent dye is added ▰ Step 3: Slide is washed to remove the unbound antibodies and then viewed under a fluorescence microscope Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 102. Direct Immunofluorescence Assay (Cont..) 102 Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 103. Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay 103 ▰ Detects antibodies in sample. Slides smeared with cells carrying known antigens are commercially available. ▰ Step 1: Test serum containing primary antibody is added to the slide ▰ Step 2: Slide is washed to remove the unbound antibodies. A secondary antibody (antihuman antibody conjugated with fluorescent dye) is added ▰ Step 3: Slide is washed and then viewed under a fluorescence microscope Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 104. Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (Cont..) 104 Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 105. Indirect Immunofluorescence Assay (Cont..) 105 Applications: ▰ Detection of autoantibodies (e.g. antinuclear antibody) in autoimmune diseases ▰ Detecting microbial antigens, e.g. rabies antigen in corneal smear ▰ Detection of viral antigens in cell lines inoculated with the specimens. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 106. Flow Cytometry 106 ▰ Laser-based technology that quantitatively analyses and separates the cells as they pass through the laser beam. ▰ Used to analyze multiple parameters of cells (e.g. leukocytes) such as cell counting, cell sorting, analysis of size, shape, granularity, DNA or RNA content of a cell, etc Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 107. Flow Cytometry 107 Applications: ▰ CD4 T cell count in HIV infected patients ▰ Detection of leukocytes with specific markers for the diagnosis of various lymphomas. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 109. IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY 109 ▰ Process of detecting antigens (e.g. proteins) in cells of a tissue section by exploiting the principle of using labelled antibodies binding specifically to the antigens in biological tissues. ▰ Based on principles of ELISA or IFA ▰ Widely used in the diagnosis of abnormal cells (e.g. tumor cells). Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 111. CHEMILUMINESCENCE-LINKED IMMUNOASSAY (CLIA) 111 ▰ Emission of light (luminescence), as a result of a chemical reaction. ▰ Principle: similar to that of ELISA; however the chromogenic substance is replaced by chemiluminescent compounds (e.g. luminol and acridinium ester) that generate light during a chemical reaction (luxogenic). ▰ Light (photons) can be detected by a photomultiplier, also called as luminometer. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 112. CHEMILUMINESCENCE-LINKED IMMUNOASSAY (CLIA) 112 ▰ (Ag-Ab complex)-enzyme (e.g. HRP) + chemiluminescent substrate (e.g. luminol and acridinium ester) → product+ light (photons) → detected by luminometer or photomultiplier. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 113. Advantages of CLIA 113 ▰ 10 times more sensitive than ELISA. ▰ Further modified by using an enhancer that potentiates the chemical reaction. ▰ Most samples have no 'background' signal, i.e. luminol compounds do not themselves emit light. ▰ Measurement of chemiluminescence is not a ratio unlike the measurement of fluorescence (IFA) and or color (ELISA). Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 114. Applications 114 ▰ Has limited applications in diagnostic microbiology compared to ELISA. ▰ Available for detection of antigens or antibodies against various infections such as hepatitis viruses, HIV, TORCH infections and biomarkers such as procalcitonin. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 115. WESTERN BLOT 115 Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 116. WESTERN BLOT 116 ▰ Western blot detects specific proteins (antibodies) in a sample containing mixture of antibodies each targeted against different antigens of same microbe. ▰ Southern blot - detects DNA fragments. ▰ Northern blot - detects mRNAs. ▰ Eastern blot - detects the carbohydrate epitopes present on proteins or lipids. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 117. Procedure 117 Comprises of three basic components: ▰ SDS PAGE ▰ NCM blotting ▰ Enzyme immunoassay Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 118. Applications 118 ▰ Excellent specificity. ▰ Used as a supplementary test to confirm the result of ELISA or other immunoassays having higher sensitivity. ▰ Western blot formats are available to detect antibody in various diseases such as HIV, Lyme’s disease, Herpes simplex virus infection, cysticercosis, hydatid disease and toxoplasmosis. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 119. Applications 119 ▰ Excellent specificity. ▰ Used as a supplementary test to confirm the result of ELISA or other immunoassays having higher sensitivity. ▰ Western blot formats are available to detect antibody in various diseases such as HIV, Lyme’s disease, Herpes simplex virus infection, cysticercosis, hydatid disease and toxoplasmosis. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 120. RAPID TESTS 120 Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 121. RAPID TESTS 121 ▰ Point of care (POC) tests, because unlike ELISA and other immunoassays, the Point of Care tests can be performed independent of laboratory equipment and deliver instant results. ▰ Two principles of rapid tests are available:  Lateral flow assay  Flow through assay. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 122. RAPID TESTS (Cont..) 122 ▰ Both the formats are available for the diagnosis of various diseases such as malaria, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV, leptospirosis, Helicobacter pylori, syphilis, etc. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 123. Immunochromatographic Test (Lateral Flow Assay) 123 ▰ Based on lateral flow technique. ▰ Widely used in diagnostic laboratories because of its simplicity, low-cost and rapidity. ▰ It can be used for both antigen and antibody detection in sample. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 124. Principle of ICT (Antigen Detection) 124 ▰ The test system consists of a nitrocellulose membrane (NCM) and an absorbent pad. ▰ Two formats are available: cassette or strip. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 125. Principle of ICT (Antigen Detection) (Cont..) 125 ▰ Test band: At the test line, the Ag-labeled Ab complex is immobilized by binding to the monoclonal Ab in the test line to form a colored band ▰ Control band: The free colloidal gold labeled Ab can move further and binds to the anti-human Ig to form a color control band. ▰ If the control band is not formed, then the test is considered invalid irrespective of whether the test band is formed or not Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 126. Flow-through Assay 126 ▰ Flow-through tests are another type of rapid diagnostic assays which differ from ICT in two aspects:  Protein A is used for labeling antibody instead of gold conjugate.  Sample flows vertically through the nitrocellulose membrane (NCM) as compared to lateral flow in ICT. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 127. Flow-through Assay (Cont..) 127 ▰ Flow-through tests can be used for both antigen and antibody detection. HIV TRIDOT test is a classical example. ▰ Detects antibodies to HIV-I and II separately in patient’s serum. ▰ Test system is in a cassette format, consisting of a NCM and an absorbent pad. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 128. Flow-through Assay (Cont..) 128 ▰ The NCM is coated at three regions ▰ Sample and buffer reagents are added sequentially from the top following which they pass through the membrane and excess fluid is absorbed into the underlying absorbent pad. ▰ As the patient’s sample passes through the membrane, HIV antibodies, if present bind to the immobilized antigens. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 129. Flow-through Assay (Cont..) 129 ▰ Test dots- Protein-A conjugate (present in buffer) binds to the Fc portion of the HIV antibodies to give distinct pinkish purple DOT(s), separately for HIV-1 and 2 antibodies. ▰ Control dot- Irrespective of whether the HIV antibodies are present or not, Protein-A can bind to any IgG present in serum and the IgG-protein A complex can further bind to the antihuman Ig at the control line to give a pinkish purple DOT. Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 130. Questions: 130 ▰ Q1. Nagler reaction is example of: a. Precipitation b. CFT c. Agglutination d. Neutralization Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 131. Questions: 131 ▰ Q2. All are agglutination reactions, except: a. VDRL test b. Standard agglutination test c. Widal test d. Paul Bunnell test Essentials of Medical Microbiology
  • 132. Questions: 132 ▰ Q3. The following methods of diagnosis utilize labeled antibodies, except: a. ELISA b. Chemiluminescence-linked immunoassay c. Hemagglutination inhibition test d. Immunofluorescence Essentials of Medical Microbiology