Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assays (ELISA)

ELISA is one of the family of immunohistochemical analytical methods. At least innitially, a so-called indirect ELISA or the detection of proteins in the objects of cultural heritage will be offered. The technique is based on the immobilisation of the target proteins on an iner carrier (e.g. a wall of the microtiter plates), and binding of the specific primary antibodies to the target sites on their target proteins (now bound to the said carrier). The following step is the binding of the secondary antibodies to the primary antibodies. The secondary antibodies are conjugated with an enzyme that performs a specific reaction - the catalysis of an indicator dye from a colourless to a form that absorbs light of a specific wawelength. The intensity of this absorption is then observed (for qualitative identification) or measured by a spectrophotometer (for a quantitative detection of the target peotein).