title: Improvements and Variants of the Multiple Antigen Blot Assay-MABA: An Immunoenzymatic Technique for Simultaneous Antigen and Antibody Screening.
abstract: This simple, versatile, reliable, reproducible, multipurpose, and inexpensive technique is based on the adhesion of different antigens to a single nitrocellulose strip using, as template, an acrylic device containing 28 parallel channels. The inclusion of channels containing normal human serum improves the quality control of this assay. Antigen-sensitized nitrocellulose strips are cut perpendicularly to the antigen-rows, exposed to immune sera followed by the appropriate conjugate. Positive signals are recorded using chemiluminescent or precipitable colorimetric substrates. This assay allows the simultaneous qualitative demonstration of antigenicity and immunogenicity of antigens obtained as synthetic peptides, recombinant molecules, or crude preparations, with high sensitivity and specificity. Its major value is based on the rapid and simultaneous comparative evaluation of various antigenic preparations allowing the diagnosis of a variety of infectious, allergic, and autoimmune diseases. It can in general be used to detect any type of antibody or circulating antigen. Some improvements and variants of the original technique are included.
authors.affiliation: Sección de Biohelmintiasis, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Apartado Postal 47.623, Zona Postal 1041-A, Caracas, Venezuela, noyaoo@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Noya
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Losada
authors.forename: Marilyan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toledo
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gauna
authors.forename: María Angelita
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lorenzo
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bermúdez
authors.forename: Belkisyolé Alarcón
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: de Noya
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D003124:Colorimetry; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting / Q000379:methods*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D010504:Periodic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000941:Antigens; D010504:Periodic Acid; C009288:metaperiodate