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Chapter-05 Immunological and Molecular Techniques and their Applications

BOOK TITLE: Immunology

Author
1. Dasgupta Anil
ISBN
9788184480665
DOI
10.5005/jp/books/10380_5
Edition
1/e
Publishing Year
2007
Pages
49
Author Affiliations
1. All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
Chapter keywords

Abstract

Immunological and Molecular techniques relevant to the diagnosis of diseases and management of the patients: (a) Antigen-antibody interaction, but the union is not absolute and (b) A piece of DNA in disease diagnosis and identity determination. An interaction of antigen with homologous antibody is inherent and occurs within a few seconds or instantaneously in the presence of electrolytes. Agglutination is a reaction of antibodies with particulate or insoluble antigens, whereas, precipitation is an interaction of antibodies with soluble antigens in gel or suitable media. Similarly, neutralization is an assay based on the ability of antibody to inactivate the biological effects of an antigen or of a microorganism expressing it; whereas complement fixation is an assay in which the primary union of antigen with antibody is not visible. If test serum contains antibody, the complement will be fixed and it will not be available for sheep cells coated with antibody to be lysed. The lysis of cells indicates that the test serum does not have homologous antibody. A wide range of routine and special laboratory tests, specific or non-specific, are being routinely done in the clinical immunology set up as part of investigations relevant to the diagnosis and management of patients suffering from diseases of immunity, such as immunodeficiency states, hypersensitivities and autoimmune diseases. Complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) for tissue typing along with blood grouping and antibody testing, is a routine procedure in patients undergoing transplantation. Similarly, a wide range of laboratory tests are routinely performed in the molecular biology set up such as HIV by PCR in AIDS, HLA-B27 by PCR in ankylosing spondylitis and, T and B cell gene rearrangement in leukemias. Though CDC technique has been replaced by DNA based techniques, such as HLA Class I and II typing by PCR SSP (sequence specific primers), the CDC assay still remains important in clinical decision making in transplantation. The use of unquestionably sensitive solid phase assays, such as ELISA, flow cytometry and luminex for tissue typing in transplantation are yet to be standardized.

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