HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Inglis, J. E. Articles by Maniero, G. D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Inglis, J. E. Articles by Maniero, G. D.

TEACHING IN THE LABORATORY

The serum complement system: a simplified laboratory exercise to measure the activity of an important component of the immune system

Biology Department, Stonehill College, Easton, Massachusetts

Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: G. D. Maniero, Biology Dept., Stonehill College, 320 Washington St., Easton, MA 02357 (e-mail: gmaniero{at}stonehill.edu)

The immune system is a vital physiological component that affords animals protection from disease and is composed of innate and adaptive mechanisms that rely on cellular and dissolved components. The serum complement system is a series of dissolved proteins that protect against a variety of pathogens. The activity of complement in serum can be determined by its ability to lyse red blood cells in vitro. Here, we describe a modification of a standard complement hemolysis assay that makes an interesting and informative laboratory exercise suitable for a variety of courses including physiology.

Key words: red blood cells; immune system; hemolysis; CH₅₀; heat labile