| immunoelectrophoresis, two-dimensional | Immunoelectrophoresis in which a second electrophoretic transport is performed on the initially separated antigen fragments into an antibody-containing medium in a direction perpendicular to the first electrophoresis. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| immunoenhancement | In immunology, the potentiating effect of specific antibody in establishing and in delaying rejection of a tumour allograft; aside from antibody, non-specific substances may also act to enhance immune response. Synonym: immunological enhancement. (05 Mar 2000) |
| immunoenhancer | Any specific or non-specific substance that increases the degree of the immune response. (05 Mar 2000) |
| immunoenzyme techniques | Immunologic techniques based on the use of: 1) enzyme-antibody conjugates; 2) enzyme-antigen conjugates; 3) antienzyme antibody followed by its homologous enzyme; or 4) enzyme-antienzyme complexes. These are used histologically for visualizing or labeling tissue specimens. (12 Dec 1998) |
| immunoferritin | Antibody-ferritin conjugate used to identify specific antigen by electron microscopy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| immunofixation | <technique> A powerful enhancement of immunoelectrophoresis in which a series of post-electrophoretic gel slabs are layered with cellulose-acetate gels saturated with specific antibodies. The resulting antigen-antibody complexes fixed on the second gel may then be stained, allowing sensitive and specific qualitative visual identification of paraproteins by electrophoretic position. It can be used to identify specific proteins in the blood or urine. It has greatest application in the identification (and monitoring) of monoclonal proteins that are produced in conditions like Waldenstom's macroglobulinaemia and multiple myeloma. (01 Dec 1998) |
| immunofluorescence | <technique> A test or technique in which one or other component of an immunological reaction is made fluorescent by coupling with a fluorochrome such as fluorescein, phycoerythrin or rhodamine so that the occurrence of the reaction can be detected as a fluorescing antigen-antibody complex. Used in microscopy to localise small amounts of antigen or specific antibody. (18 Nov 1997) |
| immunofluorescence method | Any method in which a fluorescent-labelled antibody is used to detect the presence or determine the location of the corresponding antigen. (05 Mar 2000) |
| immunofluorescent stain | <technique> Stain resulting from combination of fluorescent antibody with antigen specific for the antibody portion of the fluorochrome conjugate. (05 Mar 2000) |
| immunofluorescent studies | <technique> A special assay that relies on the production of measurable fluorescent light. An immunofluorescent tagged antibody interacts and binds with an antigen allowing an indirect measurement of its concentration. (27 Sep 1997) |
| immunogen | <immunology> A substance which is capable of eliciting (inducing) an immune response. An immunogen usually has a fairly high molecular weight (usually greater than 10,000), thus, a variety of macromolecules such as proteins, lipoproteins, polysaccharides, some nucleic acids, and certain of the teichoic acids, can act as immunogens. Compare: antigen. (09 Oct 1997) |
| immunogenetics | <study> A sub-field of genetics that uses both genetic and immunological analysesto study the genetics behind antibodyformation and the immune response. (09 Oct 1997) |
| immunogenic | <immunology> Producing immunity, evoking an immune response. Origin: Gr. Gennan = to produce (18 Nov 1997) |
| immunogenicity | <immunology> The property of being able to evoke an immune response within an organism. Immunogenicity depends partly upon the size of the substance in question and partly upon how unlike host molecules it is. Highly conserved proteins tend to have rather low immunogenicity. (18 Nov 1997) |
| immunoglobulin | <immunology> A specific protein substance that is produced by plasma cells to aid in fighting infection. Some immunoglobulins (gamma globulin) take part in various immune responses of the body to bacteria or foreign substances (allergens, tumour or transplanted tissue). Examples include IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD and IgE. (30 Mar 1998) |