@article{mbs:/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.070318-0, author = "Mehta, Promod K. and Raj, Ankush and Singh, Netra Pal and Khuller, Gopal K.", title = "Detection of potential microbial antigens by immuno-PCR (PCR-amplified immunoassay)", journal= "Journal of Medical Microbiology", year = "2014", volume = "63", number = "5", pages = "627-641", doi = "https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.070318-0", url = "https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.070318-0", publisher = "Microbiology Society", issn = "1473-5644", type = "Journal Article", abstract = "Immuno-PCR (PCR-amplified immunoassay; I-PCR) is a novel ultrasensitive method combining the versatility of ELISA with the sensitivity of nucleic acid amplification of PCR. The enormous exponential amplification power of PCR in an I-PCR assay leads to at least a 102–104-fold increase in sensitivity compared with an analogous ELISA. I-PCR has been used to detect many biological molecules such as proto-oncogenes, toxins, cytokines, hormones, and biomarkers for autoimmune and Alzheimer’s diseases, as well as microbial antigens and antibodies, and it can be adapted as a novel diagnostic tool for various infectious and non-infectious diseases. Quantitative real-time I-PCR has the potential to become the most analytically sensitive method for the detection of proteins. The sensitivity and specificity of a real-time I-PCR assay can be enhanced further with the use of magnetic beads and nanoparticles. This review is primarily focused on the detection of potential viral, bacterial and parasitic antigens by I-PCR assay, thus enabling their application for immunological research and for early diagnosis of infectious diseases.", }