How are immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence similar

How are immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence similar to each other? How are immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence different from each other?

Explain what this means in simple, English: “Transgenic mice that express the elk prion protein…” Also explain why it was necessary to use transgenic mice that express the elk prion protein.

Solution

Similarities between immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence: Both are the branches of immunology and have same goal of detecting antibody specific antigen.

Differences between immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence: Though both have same function of detecting antibody specific antigen, the method incorporated to do so is different. For example in immunohistochemistry an antibody is conjugated to an enzyme, such as peroxidase, and when substrate is added it produces colour enabling us to detect the antigen of interest.

On the other hand in immunofluorescence antibody is conjugated to a fluorescent dye instead of an enzyme. The dye emits fluorescence when subjected to short-wavelength and can be observed as light with the help of fluorescent microscope.

“Transgenic mice that express the elk prion protein” it means the rat has been given the ability to express elk prion protein. Elk is a kind of deer.

This is important because Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a contagious disease caused by prion proteins in wild animals like mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk and moose. It causes difficulty in movement and is fatal. In order to study its effect and reason for expression of this prion in elks, transgenic mice with elk-prion proteins are being made. It is easy to study on mice than to study on elks because elks are almost at the verge of getting endangered. It provides a promising research which can help either to treat or prevent this disease.