A glucose oxidase immunoenzyme stain for the detection of viral antigen or antibody on nitrocellulose transfer blots

Abstract

Separation of mixtures of proteins by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by transfer of the proteins to support media such as nitrocellulose and detection by immunologic procedures provides a powerful analytic tool for assaying the antibody specificity of antisera or for following the purification of antigens. This technique requires fewer assumptions about antigenic solubility or antibody reactivity than immunoprecipitation methods. We present a glucose oxidase immunoenzyme staining procedure for protein blots and illustrate its use for detecting antibody to several viruses. The glucose oxidase immunoenzyme stain has a lower background than some peroxidase stains. We have detected as little as 1 microgram/ml of antiviral antibody using this stain.