Chemiluminescence imaging in bioanalysis

The development, analytical performance and applications of chemiluminescen ce imaging as a tool for quantitative analyte localization in target biolog ical specimens are described. The detection of acetylcholinesterase activit y both in array format and on a target surface are described. A proposed ap plication of the method is a 384 well microtiter format assay for high thro ughput screening of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors such as tacrine, a drug widely used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, and two recently deve loped analogues. The chemiluminescent system in conjunction with optical mi croscopy allowed localization of acetylcholinesterase in brain tissue secti ons. We also describe the chemiluminescent immunohistochemical localization of interleukin 8 in Helicobacter pylori infected gastric mucosa cryosectio ns and an in situ hybridization assay for the detection of herpes simplex v irus DNA in single cells. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserve d.