Abstract   The prostate gland, a male organ, situated right under the urine bladder, is involved in male reproduction. It can also be the place for more or less serious diseases such as inflammation, abnormal growth and cancer. Especially prostate cancer is very common in the Western world. Today PSA is the most widely used marker for detection of prostate cancer. Unfortunately, this method is not specific enough. Therefore, there is a need for a better marker for screening of malignant prostate cancer. The marker should be specific both for the organ prostate and for the cancer disease. One promising marker is the prostasome, a small vesicle emanating from epithelial cells in the ejaculatory ducts in the prostate. The aim of this project was to set up an ELISA and test a number of antibodies for their ability to work as suitable capture or detection antibodies. As blocking agent different concentrations of BSA were tested. Biotin-Streptavidin conjugate was used in the detection step. Two surface proteins, PSCA and PSMA were used as capture antigens; they are specific for prostasomes. Clusterin, a prostasomal surface-bound protein, was used as antigen for the secondary antibody in the assay. With this experimental setup the detection limit was 2500ng/mL, which is probably not enough to detect prostasomes in cancer. The development of the ELISA did not reach its final stage, a ready-to-use assay, during this project. We have not yet the knowledge of optimal antibody concentrations and the other test parameters are also at experimental state.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 108-114).

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

No description available.

No description available.

The developments of immunoassay methods for the early stage diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) are described. These went through two different routes, one through flow injection analysis (FIA), and the other using immunochromatography methodology. The design of a simple longwavelength fluorescence detector to serve the above purposes has also been described. The FIA immunoassay methods involve immobilising antibodies on to beads, either directly or through protein A based solid phases. The beads are then packed into a micro-column reactor for incorporation into the FIA system. In this case reactor-bound molecules are eluted from the system by a change of pH, thus limiting the available fluorophores to those that are reasonably fluorescent in acid solution. Sandwich (reagent excess) assays have been investigated. A couple of long wavelength (600-800) fluorophores have been studied. The bead injection option has also been investigated. The immunochromatographic method uses a lateral flow system and a sandwich (two-site) immunometric assay. Capture antibodies are immobilised on a coated membrane matrix at a pre-determined position and the antigen is analysed after binding to a fluorescence-labelled antibody. Both fluorescent latex preparations and conventional fluorescent labels have been used and compared. The strips are simply immersed in a small volume of sample to start the analysis. The chromatographic step is rapid and extremely simple. The fluorescence detector is fitted with a motor-driven sample holder to allow the length of the immunochromatographic strip to be scanned. The detector utilises a diode laser light source, optical filters in the emission beam and a miniaturised photomultiplier. It can be easily modified for the FIA, and can readily be adapted to operate from batteries, so is suitable for field use.

Zugl.: Tübingen, Univ., Diss., 2007.

Regensburg, Univ., Diss., 2008.

Universiẗat, Diss., 2004--München.

Thesis (M.Phil.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 136-157). Also available in electronic version.