| abstract |
The present invention relates to a method of detecting the presence of an antibody to an avian influenza hemagglutinin antigen in a sample from a subject, wherein the antibody binds to an epitope of an avian influenza hemagglutinin antigen, comprising the steps of cloning a nucleic acid encoding an avian influenza antigen into a vector, infiltrating a plant cell with the vector, recovering the antigen from the plant, contacting the sample with the antigen, and detecting the formation of an antibodyantigen complex, wherein the antibody-antigen complex comprises antibodies in the sample bound to the antigen and wherein the formation of an antibodyantigen complex confirms that the subject has been exposed to an avian influenza hemagglutinin antigen. The present invention also relates to a device for assaying the presence of an antibody to avian influenza hemagglutinin antigen in a sample from a subject. |