indirect immunofluorescence

Friendly

Word: Indirect Immunofluorescence

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: Indirect immunofluorescence is a laboratory method used to detect specific proteins, called antigens, in cells or tissue samples. It does this by using special dyes that glow (fluoresce) under a microscope. Instead of directly tagging the antigen, this method uses a two-step process: first, a primary antibody binds to the antigen, and then a secondary antibody, which is tagged with a fluorescent dye, binds to the primary antibody. This makes it easier to see the antigen when looking through a microscope.

Usage Instructions:

• Indirect immunofluorescence is commonly used in scientific research and medical diagnostics.
• It is important to know that this method is not used for quick tests but rather for detailed analysis.

Example:

• "The researchers used indirect immunofluorescence to confirm the presence of a specific protein in the tissue samples from patients."

Advanced Usage:

• Indirect immunofluorescence can also be used to study the distribution of proteins in cells, understand disease mechanisms, or evaluate the effectiveness of treatments in medical research.

Word Variants:

• Direct immunofluorescence: A related method that directly labels the antigen with a fluorescent dye.
• Immunofluorescence: A broader term that includes both direct and indirect methods.

Different Meanings:

• While "indirect immunofluorescence" specifically refers to a scientific technique, "indirect" on its own can mean not directly caused or resulting from something.

Synonyms:

• There are no direct synonyms for "indirect immunofluorescence," but related terms include "fluorescent microscopy" and "antibody staining."

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no common idioms or phrasal verbs that specifically relate to "indirect immunofluorescence." However, in a scientific context, you might encounter phrases like "to shine a light on" (to reveal or clarify something) when discussing the method's ability to highlight specific proteins.

Conclusion:

Indirect immunofluorescence is an important technique in biology and medicine that helps scientists and doctors see and study proteins in detail.

Academic

Noun

1. a method of using fluorescence microscopy to detect the presence of an antigen indirectly