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Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity

Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity

An antigen is any substance the immune system identifies as foreign and potentially harmful to the body, prompting an immune response. Antigens have two functional properties: immunogenicity and reactivity. Immunogenicity is the ability of an antigen to stimulate a specific immune response. At the same time, reactivity describes the antigen's ability to react with the cells and antibodies produced in response to it.
Complete Antigens
Complete antigens possess both immunogenicity and reactivity.

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Generation of Two-color Antigen Microarrays for the Simultaneous Detection of IgG and IgM Autoantibodies

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Published on: September 15, 2016

Assay for superantigens.

¹Department of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College School of Medicine at Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.

Methods in Molecular Medicine

|February 23, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study presents a new quantitative assay for detecting streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A (SPEA) and other bacterial protein toxins with high sensitivity. The method offers improved detection limits compared to traditional techniques like ELISA.

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Extraction of Tissue Antigens for Functional Assays

Extraction of Tissue Antigens for Functional Assays

Published on: September 10, 2012

Area of Science:

Microbiology
Immunology
Biochemistry

Background:

Bacterial superantigens, such as streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A (SPEA), pose significant health risks.
Accurate and sensitive detection of these toxins is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
Existing methods like Ouchterlony immunodiffusion and ELISA have limitations in sensitivity and sample preparation.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a highly sensitive quantitative assay for streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A (SPEA).
To establish a versatile protocol adaptable for measuring various bacterial superantigens and protein toxins.
To overcome the limitations of sensitivity and sample concentration required by previous detection methods.

Main Methods:

Development of a novel quantitative assay utilizing specific oligonucleotide primers.
Adaptation of the protocol for amplifying coding sequences from bacterial DNA.
Application of the assay in various biological matrices including broth, tissue-culture media, and sera.

Main Results:

The new assay demonstrates significantly improved sensitivity compared to traditional methods like Ouchterlony immunodiffusion and ELISA.
The protocol allows for the detection of toxins at concentrations previously unattainable.
The assay is adaptable for quantifying a broad range of bacterial protein toxins.

Conclusions:

The developed quantitative assay provides a sensitive and versatile tool for detecting bacterial superantigens and protein toxins.
This method represents a significant advancement over existing techniques, enabling earlier and more accurate diagnosis.
The adaptability of the protocol holds promise for broader applications in clinical and research settings.