immunomärgistus

Immunomärgistus, also known as immunostaining or immunolabeling, is a widely used laboratory technique that exploits the specificity of antibodies to detect and visualize particular antigens (proteins or other molecules) within cells or tissues. This method is fundamental in various fields, including biology, medicine, and pathology, for understanding cellular processes, diagnosing diseases, and studying the distribution of specific molecules.

The core principle of immunomärgistus relies on the ability of antibodies to bind to their corresponding antigens with high affinity. In a typical immunomärgistus procedure, a biological sample such as a tissue section or cell culture is incubated with a primary antibody that is designed to recognize and bind to the target antigen. After allowing sufficient time for binding, unbound antibodies are washed away. Subsequently, a secondary antibody, which is typically conjugated to a detectable label, is applied. This secondary antibody is designed to bind to the primary antibody. The label can be an enzyme (like horseradish peroxidase or alkaline phosphatase), a fluorescent molecule (like fluorescein or rhodamine), or a colloidal gold particle. The presence of the label allows for the visualization of where the antigen is located within the sample.

Enzyme-based detection results in a colored precipitate at the site of antigen-antibody binding, which can be viewed under a light microscope. Fluorescent labeling allows for visualization using a fluorescence microscope, often enabling multiplexing where multiple antigens can be detected simultaneously using antibodies labeled with different colored fluorophores. Gold-conjugated antibodies are commonly used in electron microscopy, where the dense gold particles are readily visible. Immunomärgistus is a powerful tool for research, diagnostics, and drug development.