Immuno‐Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction for Detection and Quantitation of Prion Protein

Abstract

Immuno‐polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is an extremely sensitive detection method, combining the specificity of antibody detection and the sensitivity of PCR. We have developed an immuno‐quantitative PCR (iqPCR), exploiting real‐time PCR technology, in order to improve this immuno‐detection method and make it quantitative. To illustrate the advantages of iqPCR, we have compared it with a conventional enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) technique in experiments aimed at detecting the cellular and the resistant form of prion protein in bovine brain extract. The iqPCR technique proved to be more sensitive than ELISA, so it could be a technique of choice for the diagnosis of infected animals both at an ante mortem and post‐mortem stage.

Keywords:

• Immuno‐quantitative PCR
• Prion
• ELISA

Acknowledgement

This work was financially supported by the Région Wallonne, contract 14531, iPCRq, Belgium which is gratefully acknowledged. Wendy Grandjean (CRPP‐Laboratoire ULG BSE), Caroline Namurois (CRPP‐Laboratoire ULG BSE), Jean‐François Thonnart (CRPP‐Laboratoire ULG BSE), Dr Maité Delfosse (National Reference Laboratory) and Rita Geeroms (National Reference Laboratory) are acknowledged for skilled technical assistance.