The measurement of parasite antigen-specific IgE levels using anti-IgE monoclonal antibodies and biotinylated antigens

We studied and evaluated an ELISA system, using a sandwich method with a mo noclonal antibody against the Fc domain of IgE molecules and biotinylated a ntigens, to detect parasite antigen-specific IgE quantitatively. The specif ic IgE ELISA titre increases linearly in a dose-dependent manner when the c oncentration of total IgE in samples is less than 2000 ng/ml. Sera from IgE -deficient SJA/9 mice infected with Trichinella spiralis failed to give any measurable IgE. suggesting that other classes of immunoglobulins have no e ffect on this assay. The titre showed a good correlation with PCA titre. A high concentration of the serum from Toxocara canis-infected mice reduced t he T. spiralis-specific IgE ELISA titre. suggesting that the ELISA system i s influenced by a huge amount of IgE against epitopes different from those of target antigens. This ELISA system can also be applied for detecting oth er classes or subclasses of antigen-specific immunoglobulins.