Proteins & Antibodies | ELISA Masterclass: Flu Fighters

A full day, hands-on workshop working with proteins and antibodies to carry out an ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay). A chance for your HNC, HND and AH to work with our scientists and use real lab equipment.

Learning Level:  HNC, HND, Advanced Higher

Location: Easter Bush Science Outreach Centre, University of Edinburgh Easter Bush Campus, EH25 9RG. Bus travel to the EB Campus with a Young Scot Card is free. Please also see our "How to Find Us" page.

Minimum attendance: 16*

Maximum attendance: 20

Duration: 5 hours

Timings: 10am - 3pm

Cost: £5 per pupil (if this is a barrier to attending please email ebsoc@ed.ac.uk in confidence)

Availability: Thank you for your interest in this workshop, this academic year we will not be offering this workshop as part of our learning programme. Why not check out classroom resources that are free to download!

* If your numbers are below 16, please let us know and we will do our best to twin you with another group.

 

I thought the workshop was planned really well, ran really smoothly and was well thought through. Would definitely recommend this workshop as I think it’s a great experience for a young person interested in pursuing science. Thank you for the opportunity :)

Advanced Higher Biology Student - St Joseph's College, Dumfries

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the structure, lifecycle and modes of transmission of avian flu
  • Understand how ELISA can be used to detect influenza infection
  • Will do a quantitative ELISA of flu antibody levels to detect signs of infection
  • Make a dilution series and create a standard curve of known antigen concentrations
  • Use micropipettes and microplate reader
  • Interpretation of experimental results
  • To reveal the world of work in scientific research 

Techniques Used

  • ELISA - working with proteins and antibodies
  • Quantification of protein concentrations- using a microplate reader
  • Centrifugation
  • Micro-pipetting

Workshop outline

  • ELISA jigsaw activity to teach/reinforce the ELISA technique
  • Introduction to influenza virus and avian flu
  • Introduction to micropipettes
  • Serial dilution to generate dilutions of known antigen concentration.
  • Quantitative ELISA to assay infection status of several chickens
  • Analysis and interpretation of results
  • Discussion with scientists from The Roslin Institute 

Availability

Thank you for your interest in this workshop, this academic year we will not be offering this workshop as part of our learning programme. Why not check out classroom resources that are free to download!

Important Notes

*  Please contact us ebsoc@ed.ac.uk if your group falls below the minimum as we may be able to accommodate your request

    through our small groups waiting list. 

Downloadable Resources

 

Risk Assessment

 

Workshop Description

Testimonials

Talking to actual scientists was very interesting.

Higher Biology Pupil

The workshop put the ELISA into context for the student and was very hands on for them I thought the chat to a scientist time at the end was great to show students the variety of options available when studying/working in science

Biology Teacher

It provided the pupils with hands-on experience, provided them data to process and the implications of that data in the real world.

Biology Teacher

ELISA Masterclass

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