H. Ormstad et al., SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY OF IMMUNOGOLD LABELED CAT ALLERGENS (FEL-D-1) ON THE SURFACE OF AIRBORNE HOUSE-DUST PARTICLES, Journal of immunological methods, 187(2), 1995, pp. 245-251
This study investigated the ability of an immunogold labeling techniqu
e to demonstrate the presence of Fel d 1 (domestic cat) allergens on t
he surface of particles in samples of airborne house dust. Suspended p
articulate matter was sampled from ten Norwegian households, five with
and five without a domestic cat. The specimens were immunogold labele
d and examined in the backscatter electron imaging mode of the scannin
g electron microscope and in the transmission electron microscope. X-r
ay microanalysis was also applied to execute element analysis of the s
uspended particulate matter. The gold probe was mainly detected on car
bon particles in the suspended particulate matter, both on small (<1 m
u m) and larger carbon aggregates (1-10 mu m). The present method may
be useful in studying the localisation of different allergens on airbo
rne house dust particles of various sizes and composition.