Applications of immunocolloids in light microscopy. II. Demonstration of lectin-binding sites in paraffin sections by the use of lectin-gold or glycoprotein-gold complexes

A new procedure is presented for the light microscopic demonstration of specific sugar sequences of oligosaccharides in glycoconjugates by lectins combined with the colloidal gold marker system. Tissue sections from aldehyde-fixed and paraffin embedded rat kidney were stained either in a one-step method with lectin directly bound to particles of colloidal gold or in a two-step method using non-labeled lectin and glycoprotein labeled with colloidal gold. In both methods the presence of lectin-binding sites in the tissue sections is revealed by the appearance of a red coloration that is due to the accumulation of gold particles. The high specificity of the technique is combined with a good sensitivity and resolution as demonstrated by a differential plasma membrane staining in renal epithelial cells. The lectin-gold or glycoprotein-gold complexes remain stable for months and produce a permanent nonbleaching staining.     

Sensitive colloidal metal (gold or silver) staining of protein blots on nitrocellulose membranes

A sensitive staining method for protein blots on nitrocellulose membranes is described and compared with commonly used dye staining methods. It uses colloidal metal sols (gold or silver) stabilized with Tween 20 and adjusted to pH 3. It is based on the selective high-affinity binding of colloidal metal particles to the proteins and produces a red-purplish color (gold) or dark grey (silver). The sensitivity of this new staining method is in the same range as silver staining of polyacrylamide gels and matches the sensitivity of overlay assays. It will therefore be a useful tool for correlating the position of bands or spots of proteins detected with overlay assays with the complete electropherogram in a duplicate protein blot.     

Immunohistochemical localization of barley stripe mosaic virions in infected wheat cells

Barley stripe mosaic virus particles were localized in ultrathin sections with colloidal gold-labeled specific IgG or antiserum followed by gold-labeled goat anti-rabbit IgG. On the average, 1.5 gold particles were attached per virus rod. A statistical analysis of counts of gold and virus particles showed that the staining procedure was highly reproducible from experiment to experiment and after several independently prepared colloidal gold solutions. The procedure should be useful for the intracellular localization of any protein to which an antibody can be prepared.     

Immunogold-silver staining method for light and electron microscopic detection of lymphocyte cell surface antigens with monoclonal antibodies

We used the immunogold-silver staining method (IGSS) for detection of lymphocyte cell surface antigens with monoclonal antibodies in light and electron microscopy and compared this procedure with the immunogold staining method. Two different sizes of colloidal gold particles (5 nm and 15 nm) were used in this study. Immunolabeling on cell surfaces was visualized as fine granules only by IGSS in light microscopy. The labeling density (silver-gold complexes/cell) and diameters of silver-enhanced gold particles on cell surfaces were examined by electron microscopy. Labeling density was influenced not by the enhancement time of the physical developer but by the size of the gold particles. However, the development of shells of silver-enhanced gold particles correlated with the enhancement time of the physical developer rather than the size of the colloidal gold particles. Five-nm gold particles enhanced with the physical developer for 3 min were considered optimal for this IGSS method because of reduced background staining and high specific staining in the cell suspensions in sheep lymph. Moreover, this method may make it possible to show the ultrastructure of identical positive cells detected in 1-micron sections counterstained with toluidine blue by electron microscopy, in addition to the percentage of positive cells by light microscopy.     

委内瑞拉马脑炎病毒重组抗原的制备纯化及其胶体金免疫层析检测方法的建立

目的:表达委内瑞拉马脑炎病毒E2重组蛋白,并结合胶体金免疫层析技术建立一种简便检测委内瑞拉马脑炎病毒特异性抗体的方法。方法:利用已经构建的表达E2抗原的工程菌, 用IPTG诱导, 表达蛋白主要以包涵体的形式存在。通过一系列条件的变性、复性、透析,所制抗原用以包被硝酸纤维素膜,利用胶体金标记和免疫层析技术,建立委内瑞拉马脑炎病毒快速检测方法。对该方法的敏感性、特异性和稳定性作出评价。结果:重组工程菌可表达分子质量为 40 kDa的目的蛋白, 纯化后的蛋白质经SDS-PAGE显示纯度达95%以上。建立的检测方法可在20 min内完成检测。对症状相似及近缘的其他病毒进行检测,均无非特异反应。试纸条在37℃下保存2周,检测结果不变。该方法与R&;D公司商品化的ELISA试剂盒灵敏度检测无明显差异;对92份阴性血清进行检测,两种检测方法的符合率为96.7%。结论:重组委内瑞拉马脑炎病毒蛋白产生的包涵体变性复性后生具有良好的重复性和稳定性, 可作为委内瑞拉马脑炎病毒多种检测方法的抗原原料。胶体金免疫层析法具有快速、灵敏、特异、稳定的特点,适用于现场检测。     

新型冠状病毒胶体金抗原快速检测试剂的研制及性能评价*

目的:建立新型冠状病毒(severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2,SARS-CoV-2)胶体金抗原快速检测试剂的制备方法,并对检测试剂的性能指标进行评价。方法:采用柠檬酸三钠还原法制备胶体金溶液,用鼠抗核衣壳蛋白(nucleocapsid protein, NP)单克隆抗体及二硝基苯酚-牛血清白蛋白(DNP-BSA)作为标记抗体,硝酸纤维素膜上分别包被鼠抗核衣壳蛋白单克隆抗体和兔抗DNP多抗作为检测线和质控线制备免疫胶体金试纸条;对试剂最低检出限、交叉反应性、加速稳定性及临床诊断特异性和灵敏度进行性能评价。结果:检测热灭活培养物的最低检出限为2.0×10² TCID₅₀/mL;测试16种常见呼吸道病原体高浓度样本均无交叉反应;试剂盒50℃加速破坏8周稳定。临床及健康人群鼻咽拭子样本测试,诊断灵敏度为96.67%(29/30),特异性为99.23%(129/130),总符合率为98.75%(158/160);一致性检验Kappa值为0.959 0,P<0.05。结论:SARS-CoV-2胶体金抗原快速检测试剂检测灵敏度和特异性高,检测速度快,操作便携,无需设备,肉眼观察,可作为现有核酸检测法的补充手段,用于新型冠状病毒的早期筛查。     

Simultaneous demonstration of two antigens in ultrathin cryosections by a novel application of an immunogold staining method using primary antibodies from the same species

A recently developed immunocytochemical double-staining method for ultrathin Epon and Lowicryl K4M sections has been adopted for use on ultrathin cryosections. The essential features of the method include: staining for the first antigen by the indirect method using sufficient concentrations of second antibodies conjugated to colloidal gold particles to saturate available epitopes on the primary antibodies; supporting the cryosections by methyl cellulose followed by paraformaldehyde vapour treatment (30-60 min at 80 degrees C); removal of the methyl cellulose followed by staining for the second antigen using primary antiserum from the same species and another size class of colloidal gold particles conjugated to second antibodies. Contaminating staining does not occur if the paraformaldehyde vapour treatment exceeds 30 min, as this treatment destroys the combining sites on the second antibodies applied in the first staining cycle. Successful double-staining was documented using primary rabbit antibodies to growth hormone and corticotropin and anti-rabbit IgG conjugated to 5 and 15 nm colloidal gold particles. Following double-staining, the ultrathin cryosections may be silver-enhanced to improve detectability of the markers at low magnification.     

金标银染免疫渗滤法检测土拉弗朗西斯菌

目的:建立金标银染免疫渗滤法检测土拉弗朗西斯菌(土拉菌)的方法,评价其灵敏度、特异性、重复性及其应用。方法:以小鼠抗土拉菌脂多糖单克隆抗体作为捕获抗体包被硝酸纤维素膜、兔抗土拉菌多克隆抗体作为检测抗体标记胶体金,通过金标银染技术放大检测信号,建立金标银染免疫渗滤法检测土拉弗朗西斯菌体系;评价该方法的灵敏度、特异性和重复性;以经荧光定量PCR定量的土拉弗朗西斯菌为检测对象,比较金标银染免疫渗滤法和免疫层析法。结果:金标银染免疫渗滤法检测土拉弗朗西斯菌的最小检出量为1.0×103 CFU/mL,灵敏度高于免疫层析法;检测大肠杆菌、炭疽芽孢杆菌、布鲁菌和鼠疫耶尔森菌的结果均为阴性;密封保存的检测卡80 d内重复性良好,100 d后反应强度略有降低。结论:金标银染免疫渗滤法检测土拉弗朗西斯菌敏感性高、特异性强、重复性好,且方便快捷,不需要仪器设备,可作为快速检测土拉弗朗西斯菌的首选方法。     

An immunogold-silver staining method for detection of cell-surface antigens in light microscopy

An immunogold-silver staining technique for detection of cell-surface antigens in cell suspensions was developed. Leukocyte cell suspensions were first incubated with monoclonal antibodies directed against cell-surface antigens and then with colloidal gold-labeled goat anti-mouse antibodies. Cytocentrifuge preparations of the cell suspensions were immersed in a physical developer containing silver lactate and hydroquinone as reducing substance. The preparations were then counterstained and mounted. In light microscopy, cells reacting with the monoclonal antibodies showed dark granules on their surface membrane. An optimal morphology, as revealed by a May-Grünwald-Giemsa counterstain, permitted accurate cell identification. The labeling was influenced by the gold particle diameter and the concentration of the gold reagents, by the duration of incubation in the physical developer, and by the composition and temperature of this medium. The T-cell subsets enumerated with this method in the peripheral blood of normal adults were identical to those found with other methods. The sensitivity of the technique was comparable with that of immunofluorescence microscopy. This immunogold-silver staining procedure proved to be a reliable tool for detection of cell-surface antigens in light microscopy.     

酶联免疫法和胶体金法在胃镜检查前检测乙肝表面抗原的结果观察

目的:比较酶联免疫法和胶体金法在胃镜检查前检测乙肝表面抗原的结果,以探讨酶联免疫法和胶体金法在检验与病理科乙肝表面抗原检测中的应用价值。方法:选择2017年1月~2019年12月我院进行胃镜检查的100例上消化道疾病患者,均在胃镜检查前检测乙肝表面抗原,对照组使用胶体金法进行检测,观察组使用酶联免疫法进行检测。比较酶联免疫法和胶体金法在胃镜检查前检测乙肝表面抗原的阳性率、敏感度以及特异度。结果:酶联免疫法和胶体金法在胃镜检查前检测乙肝表面抗原的阳性率分别为35.00%(35/100)和33.00%(33/100),两种方法相比较没有明显的差异(P>0.05);酶联免疫法在胃镜检查前检测乙肝表面抗原的敏感度(97.34%)与特异度(98.12%)均明显高于胶体金法(P<0.05)。结论:酶联免疫法和胶体金法在胃镜检查前对乙肝表面抗原均有比较高的阳性检测率,但是酶联免疫法具有更高的敏感度以及特异度,仍然是现今检测乙肝表面抗原的主要方法,胶体金法由于检测方法更加简便和直观、方便携带、结果更加快捷,而且不需要特殊的仪器设备,更加适用于临床上紧急状态下患者的检测以及感染者初筛等情况。     

Simultaneous demonstration of two antigens in ultrathin cryosections by a novel application of an immunogold staining method using primary antibodies from the same species

Summary A recently developed immunocytochemical double-staining method for ultrathin Epon and Lowicryl K4M sections has been adopted for use on ultrathin cryosections. The essential features of the method include: staining for the first antigen by the indirect method using sufficient concentrations of second antibodies conjugated to colloidal gold particles to saturate available epitopes on the primary antibodies; supporting the cryosections by methyl cellulose followed by paraformaldehyde vapour treatment (30–60 min at 80°C); removal of the methyl cellulose followed by staining for the second antigen using primary antiserum from the same species and another size class of colloidal gold particles conjugated to second antibodies. Contaminating staining does not occur if the paraformaldehyde vapour treatment exceeds 30 min, as this treatment destroys the combining sites on the second antibodies applied in the first staining cycle. Succesful double-staining was documented using primary rabbit antibodies to growth hormone and corticotropin and anti-rabbit IgG conjugated to 5 and 15 nm colloidal gold particles. Following double-staining, the ultrathin cryosections may be silver-enhanced to improve detectability of the markers at low magnification.     

New sensitive light microscopical detection of colloidal gold on ultrathin sections by reflection contrast microscopy

Summary One simple post-embedding method for combined light- and electron microscopy is presented. Different types of antigens in normal rat and mouse kidneys as well as in tissues from cases of experimental induced nephritis were stained after Lowicryl K4M embedding by an immunogold (silver) method. The (silver-enhanced) gold particles were visualized by light microscopy, e.g. bright-field (BFM)- and reflection contrast (RCM) microscopy, as well as by electron microscopy. The potentials of RCM visualization in this field were investigated, resulting in the successful detection of colloidal gold (15 nm) particles, or silver enhanced gold particles, on ultrathin sections. Furthermore, an increased detection sensitivity of RCM compared with BFM together with an increase in the sensitivity of the immunostaining by RCM visualization was found. The different ways to use RCM, alone or in combination with bright-field- or phase contrast microscopy for visualization of plastic sections varying in thickness, type of plastic and staining, are discussed.     

氨苄青霉素标记的胶体金颗粒的制备及活性研究

采用微波加热法制得15 nm的胶体金颗粒,并将小分子抗原氨苄青霉素分别以戊二醛和碳化二亚胺为偶联剂与牛血清蛋白偶联制成全抗原,再通过最佳标记量的确定分别将氨苄青霉素、戊二醛法全抗原、碳化二亚胺法全抗原同胶体金进行结合,红外检测和杯碟法的抑菌试验表明采用仅有戊二醛作为偶联剂的全抗原能够很好地与胶体金结合,并保持良好抗原活性。     

Investigation of immunogold-silver staining by electron microscopy

Deposition of metallic silver on colloidal gold immunoreagents has been shown to be a very sensitive immunostaining technique capable of detecting low levels of immunoreactivity in tissue sections. Using electron microscopy we have shown that immunolabelling is highest with small sizes of gold which can penetrate sections better and achieve higher densities of particles in the section than larger particles. Chemical permeabilisation of the embedding medium aids the penetration of colloidal gold. The silver enhancement step in immunogold-silver staining was shown to be progressive, allowing optimisation of staining and the selection of the final size of silver deposits required. Some poorly understood features of the technique are rationalised and the additional knowledge gained will aid the wider application of this method.     

"Golden blot"--detection of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies bound to antigens on nitrocellulose by protein A-gold complexes

Protein A bound to particles of colloidal gold is widely used for cytochemical localization of antigens. A method for detecting immune complexes on "Western blots" with protein A-gold has been developed. It involved the following steps: (i) electrophoretic separation of proteins, (ii) transfer to nitrocellulose, (iii) incubation with antibodies, and (iv) staining with protein A-gold. The amount of antigen detectable was 10-50 ng. The sensitivity could be improved by subsequent photochemical silver staining (1-10 ng detected), and was then comparable to autoradiograms using iodinated protein A.     

Suitability of Different Protein A-Gold Markers for Immunogold-Silver Staining in Paraffin Sections

An incubation protocol to immunolabel Lowicryl semithin sections was applied to paraffin probes. To improve the labeling density, colloidal gold complexes of different preparations and sizes were compared. The type of colloidal gold preparation used was found to affect the specificity of the immunostaining. Gold colloid of 5 nm diameter particle size prepared with white phosphorus minimized nonspecific background labeling of β-casein in paraffin embedded sections of the mammary epithelium of pregnant mice. Gold colloids of 5 nm and 9 nm diameter particle size prepared in varying concentrations of tannic acid generated significant nonspecific staining in similar tissue preparations.     

Simplified purification and testing of colloidal gold probes

A novel efficient method for purifying and testing colloidal gold probes has been developed. The method consists of concentrating colloidal gold particles conjugated to IgG or protein A in dialysis bags over silica gel and purifying them by gel chromatography on small columns of Sephacryl S-400. Fractions collected are tested by paper immunocytochemical models. Comparisons to gold probes purified by conventional ultracentrifugation documents that ultrastructural staining intensities and total yield of gold probes is the same, but that the chromatographically purified gold probes are less prone to aggregation or clumping. The method has been extensively used for preparing conjugates of 5, 10 or 15 nm gold particles with antirabbit immunoglobulins but has also been exploited for preparing streptavidin-gold conjugates, protein A-gold conjugates and antirabbit immunoglobulin-silver conjugates.     

FerriDye: colloidal iron binding followed by Perls' reaction for the staining of proteins transferred from sodium dodecyl sulfate gels to nitrocellulose and positively charged nylon membranes

A staining method for proteins on (positively charged) nylon and nitrocellulose membranes is described. The two-step method uses cationic cacodylate iron colloid which is substituted with Tween 20 at an OD460 nm = 0.5, followed by Perls' reaction with acid potassium ferrocyanide. It stains transferred proteins deep blue with low background. The sensitivity is intermediate between that of conventional stains and AuroDye, the colloidal gold stain. This is the first sensitive staining method for proteins transferred on (positively charged) nylon membranes. These membranes have documented advantages in immunoblotting. It will therefore be a useful tool for correlating the position of bands or spots of proteins detected with overlay assays with the complete electropherogram in a duplicate protein blot.     

Suitability of Different Protein A-Gold Markers for Immunogold-Silver Staining in Paraffin Sections

An incubation protocol to immunolabel Lowicryl semithin sections was applied to paraffin probes. To improve the labeling density, colloidal gold complexes of different preparations and sizes were compared. The type of colloidal gold preparation used was found to affect the specificity of the immunostaining. Gold colloid of 5 nm diameter particle size prepared with white phosphorus minimized nonspecific background labeling of β-casein in paraffin embedded sections of the mammary epithelium of pregnant mice. Gold colloids of 5 nm and 9 nm diameter particle size prepared in varying concentrations of tannic acid generated significant nonspecific staining in similar tissue preparations.     

Simplified purification and testing of colloidal gold probes

Summary A novel efficient method for purifying and testing colloidal gold probes has been developed. The method consists of concentrating colloidal gold particles conjugated to IgG or protein A in dialysis bags over silica gel and purifying them by gel chromatography on small columns of Sephacryl S-400. Fractions collected are tested by paper immunocytochemical models. Comparisons to gold probes purified by conventional ultracentrifugation documents that ultrastructural staining intensities and total yield of gold probes is the same, but that the chromatographically purified gold probes are less prone to aggregation or clumping. The method has been extensively used for preparing conjugates of 5, 10 or 15 nm gold particles with antirabbit immunoglobulins but has also been exploited for preparing streptavidin-gold conjugates, protein A-gold conjugates and antirabbit immunoglobulin-silver conjugates.