The Immune System: Red Cell Agglutination in Non-Humans

 

Fred W. Quimby and Nancy V. Ridenour

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 1994, Volume 15

Abstract

This exercise presents the concepts of immunology from biochemical, evolutionary, and adaptive standpoints. While all organisms have developed some mechanism of defense against external agents, vertebrates have the most complex immune responses capable of exquisite specificity and long duration. This affords a distinct advantage to species with a relatively long life span and low fecundity. This exercise explores the relationship between immunologic stimulation of the host with foreign antigens and antibody production. The principles of species specificity, primary and secondary immune responses, cross-reactivity, and complement-mediated cell lysis are demonstrated using the red cell agglutination assay. Agglutination occurs when a single antibody molecule binds simultaneously to a surface antigen on two red cells a principle used daily in the diagnosis of viral infections and blood groups incompatibility in humans and other animals.

Keywords:  complementation, lymphocyte, antibody, hemagglutination, Rh factor, hemolytic disease of newborns

University of Toronto (1993)