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Antibody binding in altered gravity: implications for immunosorbent assay during space flightA single antibody-incubation step of an indirect, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed during microgravity, Martian gravity (0.38 G) and hypergravity (1.8 G) phases of parabolic flight, onboard the NASA KC-135 aircraft. Antibody-antigen binding occurred within 15 seconds; the level of binding did not differ between microgravity, Martian gravity and 1 G (Earth's gravity) conditions. During hypergravity and 1 G, antibody binding was directly proportional to the fluid volume (per microtiter well) used for incubation; this pattern was not observed during microgravity. These effects in microgravity may be due to "fluid spread" within the chamber (observed during microgravity with digital photography), leading to greater fluid-surface contact and subsequently antibody-antigen contact. In summary, these results demonstrate that: i) ELISA antibody-incubation and washing steps can be successfully performed by human operators during microgravity, Martian gravity and hypergravity; ii) there is no significant difference in antibody binding between microgravity, Martian gravity and 1 G conditions; and iii) a smaller fluid volume/well (and therefore less antibody) was required for a given level of binding during microgravity. These conclusions indicate that reduced gravity would not present a barrier to successful operation of immunosorbent assays during spaceflight.
Document ID
20050172253
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Maule, Jake
(Geophysical Laboratory Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC, United States)
Fogel, Marilyn
Steele, Andrew
Wainwright, Norman
Pierson, Duane L.
McKay, David S.
Date Acquired
August 23, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 2003
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of gravitational physiology : a journal of the International Society for Gravitational Physiology
Volume: 10
Issue: 2
ISSN: 1077-9248
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
NASA Discipline Environmental Health
NASA Center JSC
Parabolic Flight
short duration
NASA Program Biomedical Research and Countermeasures
manned
Flight Experiment

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