IIBR's multi-disciplinary R&D groups are engaged in the development of rapid, sensitive,
and specific diagnostic methods for detection and identification of bioterrorism
threat agents in a variety of matrices such as clinical specimens, food and environmental
samples, all characterized by vastly different and complex background.
The diagnostic strategies employed by IIBR include:
- Organism cultivation and subsequent characterization by classical microbiological
tools
- Genetic identification and typing of pathogens (real-time PCR for specific molecular
markers, DNA array)
- Immunoenzymatic assays (e.g., electrochemiluminiscent assays)
- Polypeptide profile analysis (Western-blots, MALDI-TOF/MS)
- Visual detection of pathogens in the host tissues (immunoflourescence)
- Electron microscopy analysis (see next section)
- Evaluation of host immune response by serological tests
- Combined immunomagnetic separation (IMS) and lateral immunochromatography for pathogen
detection in food and water
- Simultaneous detection of multiple pathogens by DNA and antibody microarray analysis
In addition IIBR operates several centers for the diagnosis of specific infectious
diseases such as rickettial and ehrlichial diseases and leptospirosis. These centers
serve as national reference laboratories, and the leptospirae laboratory acts as
a WHO-approved national reference center. These centers offer diagnostic consultation
to hospitals and clinics in Israel, and also produce antigens, antibodies, and conjugates
as specific diagnostic reagents.
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