title: Immunocytochemical detection of antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen by a streptavidin-biotin-complex assay.
abstract: An immunocytochemical staining for the detection of antibody to Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen in cell smears was developed by using a three-dimensional complex of streptavidin and biotin labeled with horseradish peroxidase as the detector system. The presence of antibody against Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen was revealed by a dark staining of the nuclei of Raji cells. A significant correlation was found between the titers obtained with our assay and titers obtained by anticomplement immunofluorescence on 110 serum samples. Our assay did not require an Epstein-Barr virus-negative serum source for fresh complement and gave a permanent record of the reaction that could easily be observed under an ordinary light microscope.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Musiani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zerbini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plazzi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gentilomi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: La Placa
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001710:Biotin; D002460:Cell Line; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D012044:Regression Analysis; D019809:Streptavidin
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D019309:Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigens; D001710:Biotin; D019809:Streptavidin