Influenza A, Avian, H5N1, BioAssay(TM) ELISA Kit

Influenza A virus is a major public health threat, killing more than 30,000 people per year in the USA. Novel influenza virus strains emerge periodically to which humans have little or no immunity, resulting in devastating pandemics. Influenza A can exist in a variety of animals; however it is in birds that all subtypes can be found. These subtypes are classified based on the combination of the virus coat glycoproteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) subtypes. During 1997, an H5N1 avian influenza virus was determined to be the cause of death in 6 of 18 infected patients in Hong Kong. There was some evidence of human to human spread of this virus, but it is thought that the transmission efficiency was fairly low. Although it has been known that cleavage site and glycosylation patterns of the HA protein play important roles in determining the pathogenicity of H5 avian influenza viruses, it has only recently been shown that an additional glycosylation site within the globular head of the neuraminidase protein also contributes to the high virulence of the H5N1 virus. H5N1 hemagglutinin interacts with cell surface proteins containing oligosaccharides with terminal sialyl residues. Virus isolated from a human infected with the H5N1 strain in 1997 could bind to oligosaccharides from human as well as avian sources, indicating its species-jumping ability. Intended Use: These polyclonal antibodies can be used for detection of H5N1 Hemagglutinin or Neuraminidase proteins in bodily fluid or tissue by ELISA. Immunogenic peptides are provided as positive controls and to determine protein concentration. Sensitivity: Each antibody will detect 10ng of its corresponding peptide. Specificity: Rabbit polyclonal antibodies were raised against peptide sequences corresponding to each of the target proteins. Efforts were made to use regions of each protein that appear to be relatively conserved across H5N1 sub-strains, but due to the inherent variability of the influenza virus, no guarantees can be made. Kit Components: H5N1 Hemaglutinin, NT, 1x25ug H5N1 Hemaglutinin, ID 1x25ug H5N1 Neuraminidase, CT, 1x25ug H5N1 Neuraminidase, ID, 1x25ug H5N1 Hemaglutinin Peptide, NT, 1x25ug H5N1 Hemaglutinin Peptide, ID, 1x25ug H5N1 Neuraminidase Peptide, CT, 1x25ug H5N1 Neuraminidase Peptide, ID, 1x25ug Storage and Stability: Store all components at 4 degrees C. Stable for at least 6 months. For maximum recovery of product, centrifuge the original vial after thawing and prior to removing the cap.