Infectious Disease Research Antibodies

Infectious diseases are illnesses resulting from the invasion of pathogenic organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or other parasites. Through a series of immune responses, the immune system makes a large quantity of antibodies, attacks invaders, eliminates foreign substances from the body, and protects people from infections. When immunity is impaired, uncontrolled infection leads to disease. Infectious diseases have plagued human populations throughout history and continue to destroy millions of lives every year. Thermo Fisher Scientific offers a wide range of Invitrogen antibodies, designed to dependably detect the key targets of infectious diseases. Each antibody is verified for use in various applications.

Invitrogen antibodies are designed to dependably detect key targets of infectious diseases. .

All viruses are capsules with a core of genetic material, either RNA or DNA. Viruses can't survive without a live host, which can be an animal, plant, or bacterium. When a virus infects a host, it invades and exploits the host cells to produce new viruses. Most viruses cause infectious diseases and present cell-, tissue-, or organ-specific viral infections. For example, the hepatitis virus specifically attacks liver cells. Viral infectious diseases can range from the common cold, flu, and warts to severe illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, yellow fever, hemorrhagic fever, and Zika.

Bacteria can survive in different environments, including extremely hot and cold conditions. Most bacteria are harmless, and some actually colonize intestines and help to digest food. Only about 1% of bacteria encountered by humans cause disease. Examples include Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Streptococcus, Shigella, and Salmonella species.

Parasites are organisms that live on/in a host and get nutrients to survive, which ultimately harms the host. In general, three types of organisms cause parasitic diseases: protozoa, helminths, and ectoparasites. Protozoa such as Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia lamblia, Plasmodium falciparum, and Toxoplasma gondii cause protozoan infections. Helminths, commonly known as parasitic worms, include flatworms, tapeworms, and roundworms. Ectoparasites live and/or feed on the outside of their host and include fleas, mosquitoes, and mites. Parasitic infections are more common in rural or developing areas. Malaria (caused by several species of Plasmodium, especially P. falciparum) is one of the deadliest parasitic diseases. There are also several common parasitic infections found in the United States, including cryptosporidiosis, trichomoniasis, and giardiasis.

Fungi live everywhere in the environment, and in the human body. Most fungi are not dangerous, and less than 1% of fungi are known to be pathogenic to humans. Two categories of fungal infections are opportunistic fungal infections and primary fungal infections. Opportunistic fungal infections, which usually affect individuals with weakened immune systems, are often very aggressive and sometimes lethal. Aspergillosis, candidiasis, and mucormycosis are opportunistic fungal infections. Primary fungal infections develop much more slowly and usually do not spread to organs deep in the body.