Pamela L. Turner asked about: "an assay for measuring the binding of bacteria to macrophages and bacterial killing by macrophages (phagocytosis). ----------------------------------------------- Molecular Probes sells a number of products to assess phagocytosis including their Fc OxyBurst kit which uses an immune complex of BSA-dichlorodihyro-fluorescein (H2DCF) and anti-BSA to stimulate phagocytosis. After the immune complex is phagocytized, the oxidative burst of the cell oxidizes the H2DCF to DCF, which is fluorescent. The increase in fluorescence mimics bacterial killing. I have used this kit and it works well, but does have a shelf life of less than 6 months, I believe. They also sell fluorescent bacteria and the reagents to make your own particles for phagocytosis. The Molecular Probes phone number is (541) 465-8300, e-mail for technical assistance: tech@probes.com Hope this helps, Tony Bakke Director, Clinical Flow Cytometry Lab Oregon Health Sciences University
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