1.1.5 WLISA
Activity 1.1.5: ELISA
Introduction
Given Sue’s diagnosis, all of the patients from the past two days need to be called back in for immediate testing. School officials are concerned about a possible outbreak of bacterial meningitis on campus. In order to diagnose bacterial meningitis, it is necessary to obtain a sample of cerebral spinal fluid using a spinal tap. Since this procedure is extremely invasive and painful, only those patients doctors feel are at greatest risk for the disease will be tested. Use the spinal fluid samples to identify those who are infected with meningitis and to trace how this disease may have spread amongst the students on campus. Devise a plan to halt the spread of the disease before it is too late!
In Human Body Systems, you investigated the workings of the immune system and learned how antibodies, specific proteins produced in response to invading antigens, circulate to keep us healthy. Antibodies seek out and attach themselves to invaders, flagging them for destruction by the immune system. These antigens are molecules foreign to the body and can include bacteria, viruses and fungi. Since antibodies are extremely specific to the antigens they attack, these proteins can be used in the laboratory to help identify disease agents. One test, the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbant Assay (ELISA), combines targeted tagging with antibodies and an enzyme reaction that produces a visible color change to test for the presence of disease antigens or antibodies produced in response to that antigen. The ELISA assay can even detect disease agents in body fluids before the body has a chance to mount an immune response and produce antibodies. An ELISA can provide qualitative results, indicating whether a patient is positive or negative for the presence of the antigen or antibody, or an ELISA can provide quantitative results, determining how much of the detected substance is present.
In this lab, you will use ELISA to test simulated cerebral
Introduction
Given Sue’s diagnosis, all of the patients from the past two days need to be called back in for immediate testing. School officials are concerned about a possible outbreak of bacterial meningitis on campus. In order to diagnose bacterial meningitis, it is necessary to obtain a sample of cerebral spinal fluid using a spinal tap. Since this procedure is extremely invasive and painful, only those patients doctors feel are at greatest risk for the disease will be tested. Use the spinal fluid samples to identify those who are infected with meningitis and to trace how this disease may have spread amongst the students on campus. Devise a plan to halt the spread of the disease before it is too late!
In Human Body Systems, you investigated the workings of the immune system and learned how antibodies, specific proteins produced in response to invading antigens, circulate to keep us healthy. Antibodies seek out and attach themselves to invaders, flagging them for destruction by the immune system. These antigens are molecules foreign to the body and can include bacteria, viruses and fungi. Since antibodies are extremely specific to the antigens they attack, these proteins can be used in the laboratory to help identify disease agents. One test, the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbant Assay (ELISA), combines targeted tagging with antibodies and an enzyme reaction that produces a visible color change to test for the presence of disease antigens or antibodies produced in response to that antigen. The ELISA assay can even detect disease agents in body fluids before the body has a chance to mount an immune response and produce antibodies. An ELISA can provide qualitative results, indicating whether a patient is positive or negative for the presence of the antigen or antibody, or an ELISA can provide quantitative results, determining how much of the detected substance is present.
In this lab, you will use ELISA to test simulated cerebral