Diagnosis of pathogen infections through analysis of nitrite production by antigen stimulated leukocytes

摘要

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells which have been isolated from an animal that is infected with a microbial pathogen produce nitric oxide in response to stimulation with antigens from that pathogen. Determination of nitric oxide production in cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with a pathogen's antigens may thus provide an indication of infection of the animal.