Immunological techniques

Immunological techniques include both experimental methods to study the immune system and methods to generate or use immunological reagents as experimental tools. The most common immunological methods relate to the production and use of antibodies to detect specific proteins in biological samples.Antibody generationAntibody generation is the production of antibodies from cells or animals in sufficient quantity to be used as an experimental or therapeutic reagent. Polyclonal antibody mixtures are generated by injecting an animal with an agent that elicits an immune response, and monoclonal antibodies are generated from immortal immune cell lines.Antibody isolation and purification Antibody isolation and purification is the concentration of an antibody or antibodies that recognize a specific target molecule and the removal of non-specific antibodies and contaminants. Pure isolated antibodies tend to have greater activity and are less likely to cross-react with non-target molecules than impure mixtures.