title: The serum complement system: a simplified laboratory exercise to measure the activity of an important component of the immune system.
abstract: The immune system is a vital physiological component that affords animals protection from disease and is composed of innate and adaptive mechanisms that rely on cellular and dissolved components. The serum complement system is a series of dissolved proteins that protect against a variety of pathogens. The activity of complement in serum can be determined by its ability to lyse red blood cells in vitro. Here, we describe a modification of a standard complement hemolysis assay that makes an interesting and informative laboratory exercise suitable for a variety of courses including physiology.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Stonehill College, Easton, MA 02357, USA.
authors.forename: Jordan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Inglis
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Radziwon
authors.forename: Gregory D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Maniero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000378:metabolism*; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D003165:Complement System Proteins