Welcome to China!

Background Information

Did You Know… The ‘swine flu’ has never been isolated from pigs! The genes of human ‘swine flu’ VERY SIMILAR to swine influenza thus the media dubbing it ‘swine flu’. Therefore, it is unknown if the swine flu is actually zoonotic.

So if it didn’t come directly from pigs…where the heck did it come from? Genetic re-assortment occurs when more than 1 virus infects a cell Viral DNA/RNA gets mixed & matched up giving various genetic combinations

Why H1N1? Influenza and their subtypes are named & classified based on their surface proteins. Hemagglutinin and Neuraminidase are surface proteins found on the influenza virus. Hemagglutinin is an antigen that helps influenza bind to host cells Neuraminidase is an enzyme that helps viral particles leave infected cells.

Our Experiment – ELISA

ELISA stands for what?

After your trip to China, you will share simulated ‘body fluids’ with your classmates to see how easy it is to pass on H1N1. Then you will perform an ELISA test to determine if you have been exposed to this contagious disease.

After becoming infected, within days your body will have produced millions of antibodies. In this lab we will use antibodies to determine the presence of an antigen (H1N1).

Procedure

Setup Obtain a test-sample with appropriate number Label the 12-well strip: First 3 wells: positive controls “+” Next 3 wells: negative controls “-” Remaining wells to identify test-samples: Place your initials

How it Works Microplate strips are made of polystyrene Hydrophobic side chains in amino acids bind to the polystyrene wells No special coating is needed

The antibodies used to recognize antigens are called: Primary antibodies Secondary Antibodies The antibodies which bind to primary antibodies are called:

Tips Use new paper towel each time Be careful not to cross-contaminate with your pipette!

Results Results should look something like this: You will want to make a chart to identify who is patient zero

Get started!