Systematic Veterinary Virology

INTRODUCTION

Immunofluorescence is a technique allowing the visualization of a specific protein or antigen in cells or tissue sections by binding a specific antibody chemically conjugated with a fluorescent dye such as fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). There are two major types of immunofluorescence staining methods:

• Direct immunofluorescence staining in which the primary antibody is labeled with fluorescence dye, and
• Indirect immunofluorescence staining in which a secondary antibody labeled with fluorochrome is used to recognize a primary antibody. Immunofluorescence staining can be performed on cells fixed on slides and tissue sections. Immunofluorescence stained samples are examined under a fluorescence microscope or confocal microscope.