Immune Electron Microscopy

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Abstract
An immune serum to Staphylococcus aureus was conjugated to ferritin through a di-isocyanate linkage. When applied to the homologous organisms fixed in formalin, then embedded in methacrylate with uranium, the antigen-antibody reaction could be detected in thin sections under the electron microscope by the presence of the characteristic molecular pattern of the ferritin molecule in the capsule-like structure. The use of electron-dense antibody conjugate presents a new method of observing immune reactions at the subcellular level, providing a method to localize definitely the sites of antigen production as well as viral aggregates in tissue. A more critical evaluation of the specificity of immune reactions will be permitted than was possible with immunofluorescent technique, since nonspecific reactions were not encountered.

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