Description
Key facts
Detection method:Colorimetric,
Sample types:Citrate plasma, Heparin Plasma, Serum,
Reacts with:Human,
Assay type:Sandwich (qualitative),
Assay Platform:Microplate (12 x 8 well strips)
Product details:
Legionella pneumophila
IgM ELISA kit (ab247198) is designed for the qualitative determination of IgM class antibodies against
Legionella pneumophila
in human serum or plasma (citrate, heparin).
The qualitative immunoenzymatic determination of specific antibodies is based on the ELISA (Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay) technique. Microplates are coated with specific antigens to bind corresponding antibodies of the sample. After washing the wells to remove all unbound sample material a horseradish peroxidase (HRP) labelled conjugate is added. This conjugate binds to the captured antibodies. In a second washing step unbound conjugate is removed. The immune complex formed by the bound conjugate is visualized by adding Tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) substrate which gives a blue reaction product. The intensity of this product is proportional to the amount of specific antibodies in the sample. Sulphuric acid is added to stop the reaction. This produces a yellow endpoint colour. Absorbance at 450/620 nm is read using an ELISA microwell plate reader.
Legionellae
are aerobic gram-negative facultative intracellular parasites of certain protozoa. They are found in freshwater environments worldwide and can cause respiratory disease (legionellosis) in humans.
L. pneumophila
multiplies itself at temperatures between 25 and 42 °C, with an optimal growth temperature of 35 °C.
Legionella
thrives in warm, stagnant water in the environment and in artificial systems such as cooling towers, evaporative condensers, hot and cold water systems and spa pools that mimic the natural environment in which the organism thrives. These systems also provide the means by which aerosols/droplets are generated and the organism dispersed into the atmosphere.
Legionellosis
can be acquired by the inhalation of aerosols containing Legionella bacteria or by micro-aspiration of ingested water contaminated with Legionella. Person-to-person transmission is not thought to be a risk.
Properties and Storage Information:
Shipped at conditions-Blue Ice, Appropriate short-term storage conditions-+4°C, Appropriate long-term storage conditions-+4°C, Storage information-+4°C
Supplementary Information:
This supplementary information is collated from multiple sources and compiled automatically.
Legionella pneumophila often recognized by its popular alternate name Legionella p. is a bacterium with a mass of approximately 2 megadaltons. This pathogen has intricate machinery that manipulates host cell functions to favor its own replication. It expresses virulence factors within host cells often targeting macrophages. These virulence factors include the Dot/Icm Type IV secretion system which plays an important role in its pathogenicity. Legionella pneumophila's ability to evade destruction by host immune systems highlights its sophisticated mechanisms.
Biological function summary
Legionella pneumophila manipulates cellular processes to create a favorable niche for its replication. It forms a specialized compartment known as the Legionella-containing vacuole (LCV) within host cells. The bacterium achieves this by modulating host vesicle trafficking pathways avoiding lysosomal degradation. The LCV selectively recruits endoplasmic reticulum-derived vesicles helping Legionella establish a niche distinct from those normally used by other intracellular pathogens. This process promotes bacterial survival and replication within the host cell cytoplasm.
Pathways
Legionella pneumophila is integrally involved with host autophagy and apoptosis pathways. It possesses proteins that intervene in these cellular pathways to suppress apoptosis of infected cells prolonging its survival. It also hijacks the host's secretory pathway to modulate the transport and secretion of cellular components effectively manipulating host cell functions. The manipulation of pathways involves interactions with host proteins such as Rab1 which is important for its replication and survival.
Legionella pneumophila is primarily associated with Legionnaires' disease and Pontiac fever. These illnesses are results of respiratory infections caused by inhaling aerosolized water droplets containing the bacterium. In Legionnaires' disease the pathogen's interaction with macrophage proteins such as TNF-α and IL-6 highlights its ability to trigger a robust immune response which contributes to the clinical manifestations of the disease. The bacterium's virulence factors are critical in influencing the severity and progression of these infections.
