Question

Case Question:

In the last few months, your lab is looking into offering specific testing to detect the presence of pathogen X in your patients during the early onset of infection. The mortality rates with Pathogen X have demonstrated an alarming upward trend, specifically in very young kids, elderly, and immunocompromised patients.

• In this scenario, you will choose your pathogen. Specify if pathogen X is a bacterial, fungal, viral, or parasitic pathogen.
• Please note the following characteristics of your chosen pathogen:
  • If pathogen X is bacterial – it cannot be cultured in the lab
  • If pathogen X is viral – Available commercial tests approved by the FDA are not specific and not sensitive.
  • If pathogen X is fungal - Available commercial tests approved by the FDA are not specific and not sensitive.
  • If pathogen X is parasitic – No commercial tests have been approved by the FDA.
• Based on what you have learned about antibodies, antigens, and the complement pathways, select one type of test that you would recommend.
  1. Antibody testing (be specific on the type of antibody – IgM, IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG)
  2. Antigen testing
  3. Complement component (be specific on which complement component pathway)

1. Using at least 2 complete sentences, discuss your choice in part 3

Answer 1

Answer

Antibody testing :

It is an analysing the patients blood samples for the know of presence of particular antibody in qualitative form and the amount of antibodies knowing is quantitative form.

These anti bodies are part of our body immune system.

Anti bodies are proteins made with immune system to act against antigens like viruses, bacteria, and fungi.

For example Herpes simplex we will do the antibody test that is finding IgG and IgM test .

Blood test will do with in 7-10 days after starting initial infection .

If the IgG comes positive then we can decide person is infected with herpes simplex virus.

Antigen testing :

It is a rapid diagnostic test it is suitable for point of care testing ,this testing is directly detects the presence or obscence of an antigen.

Forexample CRAG ( CRyptococcal Antigen Test) latex agglutination test, it is done by collecting CSF ( cerebro spinal fluid) or serum, to find antigen cryptococcus.

Complement components :

Complement component 3 it is the protein of the immune system it plays vital role in these system and it provides the innate immunity.

In humans chromosome 19 by a gene called as component 3.

Completely system is a part of immune system it enhances the antibody activity against antigens or microbes and increases inflammatory responses .

Complement component path ways includes classical path way, MB lectin path way, and Alternative pathway .

The classical pathway is the antibody is indirectly binds with the pathogen surface, or triggered directly by the pathogen.

For example deficiency of C2 and C4 can cause systemic leupus erythimatus.