Learning Labs:   Immunology

A possible case of LYME DISEASE

Outline of the Unit

Goals:

• to demonstrate principles of immunodiagnosis including how antibody-antigen interactions can be used to screen for disease.
• to understand the clinical features and transmission of Lyme disease including the life cycle of Ixodes, the tick that transmits the spirochete B. burgdorferi to humans.

Objectives:

Students will:

• perform an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) simulation for Lyme disease
• be introduced to the complexity of assay development, the importance of controls and the meaning of false negative and false positive results.

Target audience:

Biology and Advanced Placement Biology students

Length of presentation:

2.5 hours

A microtiter plate coated with the antigen will be provided to the students. The students will titer serum from a "patient" with possible Lyme disease and serum from a normal control. Enzyme labeled goat species specific anti-IgG will be added. The final step is the addition of a chromogen. If antibody has bound to the antigen, a color will appear. The concept of titer, antibody specificity, and the complexity of assay development are demonstrated in the unit.

Next: Clinical Case

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