Description
The immunoblot, also known as Western blot, is an advanced method for identifying proteins in biological samples. In the case of infections, this method is often used to confirm the presence of specific antibodies against certain proteins or antigens. First, the proteins are separated by electrophoresis according to their size and then transferred onto a solid support, such as a nitrocellulose membrane. The sample is then applied to the support, and if specific antibodies are present, they bind to the corresponding proteins. Subsequently, the bound antibodies are visualized, often by adding an enzyme- or fluorescence-labeled secondary antibody and an appropriate substrate. The band patterns generated by the immunoblot can provide information about the presence and specificity of antibodies in the sample.