Evaluation of a Direct Rapid Immunohistochemical Test (dRIT) for Rapid Diagnosis of Rabies in Animals and Humans

Presently the gold standard diagnostic technique for rabies is the direct immunofluorescence assay （dFA） which is very expensive and requires a high level of expertise. There is a need for more economical and user friendly tests, particularly for use in developing countries. We have established one such test called the direct rapid immunohistochemical test （dRIT） for diagnosis of rabies using brain tissue. The test is based on capture of rabies nucleoprotein （N） antigen in brain smears using a cocktail of biotinylated monoclonal antibodies specific for the N protein and color development by streptavidin peroxidase-amino ethyl carbazole and counter staining with haematoxollin. The test was done in parallel with standard FAT dFA using 400 brain samples from different animals and humans. The rabies virus N protein appears under fight microscope as reddish brown particles against a light blue background. There was 100 % correlation between the results obtained by the two tests. Also, interpretation of results by dRIT was easier and only required a light microscope. To conclude, this newly developed dRIT technique promises to be a simple, cost effective diagnostic tool for rabies and will have applicability in field conditions prevalent in developing countries.

Effect of “three-acupoint and five-needling method” on the expression level of p-ERK 1/2 protein in lung tissue of rats with allergic bronchial asthma

Objective To explore the effect of ＂three-acupoint and five-needling method＂ on the expression level of p-ERK 1/2 protein in lung tissue of rats with allergic bronchial asthma.Methods Forty SPF-grade male SD rats were selected and randomly divided into four groups,including control group（group C）,model group（group M）,acupuncture group（group A） and blocker group（group PD）,with 10 rats in each group.After corresponding intervention was given,cell counting was conducted,and the expression level of p-ERK 1/2 protein in the lung tissue of rats was detected via immunohistochemical method and Western blot method.Results The number of leukocyte and eosinophil in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of rats in group A and group PD was smaller than that in group M,but larger than that in group C.It was shown based on the immunohistochemical test and Western blot test that the expression level of p-ERK1/2 protein in the lung tissue of rats in group M was higher than that in group C（P0.05）,while the expression level of p-ERK1/2 protein in group A and group PD was lower than that in group M（P0.05）.Conclusion ＂Threeacupoint and five-needling method＂ can effectively relieve the inflammatory response of rats with allergic bronchial asthma,and inhibit the expression level of p-ERK 1/2 protein in the lung tissue of rats with asthma.Acupuncture may alleviate the symptom of allergic bronchial asthma through inhibiting the expression level of p-ERK 1/2 protein.