Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease which currently lacks rapid and definitive diagnostic tests. Recently identified neuron specific splice variant molecules, Per28 and NFL-60, have been shown to contain unique epitopes and to have altered levels of expression in ALS patients. It is believed that these factors make Per28 and NFL-60 excellent candidate biomarkers for the ALS disease state. In this study, we attempted to develop ELISA assays directed against Per28 and NFL-60, as well as a generalized guideline for splice variant ELISA development, which could be used in a clinical setting. Limitations in currently identified antibodies to the splice variants allowed only for the completion of a Per28 ELISA, which lacked the sensitivity for clinical relevance. This assay creation process, however, did produce a guideline for similar ELISA development, which should allow for the more expeditious creation future ELISA.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TORONTO/oai:tspace.library.utoronto.ca:1807/25578 |
| Date | 31 December 2010 |
| Creators | Findlater, Joseph |
| Contributors | Robertson, Janice |
| Source Sets | University of Toronto |
| Language | en_ca |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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