Prevention of false positive binding during immunofluorescence of Staphylococcus aureus infected tissue biopsies

Date

2012

Authors

Tan, N.W.
Tran, H.
Roscioli, E.
Wormald, P.J.
Vreugde, S.

Editors

Advisors

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Type:

Journal article

Citation

Journal of Immunological Methods, 2012; 384(1-2):111-117

Statement of Responsibility

Neil C.-W. Tan, Hai Tran, Eugene Roscioli, Peter John Wormald, Sarah Vreugde

Conference Name

Abstract

Immunofluorescence is a fundamental tool used to analyse tissue and cell samples with a wide variety of available antibodies targeting specific proteins or molecules. Staphylococcal surface protein A is used both in clinical, research and industrial settings for its ability to bind mammalian immunoglobulin G. Spurious binding between protein A and IgG antibodies can lead to false-positive fluorescence and misleading results. Here we demonstrate this occurring in formalin-fixed patient samples that harbour Staphylococcus aureus infection, and characterise methods to overcome this issue. Specifically the use of F(ab') fragment antibodies or blocking with human IgG is shown to prevent antibody-protein A interaction in formalin-fixed S. aureus smears, biopsies obtained from infected patients, and experimentally infected tissue samples.

School/Discipline

Dissertation Note

Provenance

Description

Access Status

Rights

Crown copyright © 2012

License

Grant ID

Call number

Persistent link to this record