Virostat, which provides infectious disease antibody tools to researchers and manufacturers, has launched new monoclonal antibodies to avian influenza viruses, following reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that the H5N1 bird influenza has been detected in several species of wild birds as well as domestic poultry flocks.
Sporadic infections with this virus have also been detected in mammals (fox, raccoon, skunks, mountain lions). One US case has been reported following exposure to infected birds, but no person-to-person transmission has occurred.
ViroStat’s monoclonal antibodies target the highly conserved nucleoprotein of the Influenza A virus. Thus these monoclonal antibody pairs detect many Flu A isolates found in human, avian, swine and equine sources. These include viruses of H1-H14 types and N1-N9 types. Immunoassays utilising these antibody pairs are useful for detecting Flu A in humans as well as for surveillance of circulation in other animal species.
As a primary manufacturer since 1985, ViroStat provides critical technical support for all of its products – visit the ViroStat website www.virostat-inc.com to download your digital copy or request a hard copy of the new catalogue.