Immunoblot technique for Q fever (technical note)

Partially purified but unfixed C. burnetii cells were submitted to sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Western blotted and used as antigens for evaluation of antibody responses against the agent in mice, cattle and humans. Increased specificity was achieved by using glutaraldehyde as additional blocking agent. Gels as well as membranes were subjected to laser densitometry and data analysed with an IBM personal computer. This technique offers the possibility to objectively quantify and document the results of immunoblotting.