A Strain of the Ehrlichial Agent

Summary The NCH-1 strain of the agent of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE), isolated from a Nantucket patient in 1994, is available as a continuous culture in HL60 promyelocytic leukemia cells. This strain has been molecularly characterised, and is identical within the rDNA sequence that was analysed to material from upper Midwestern HGE patients. Greater than 50% of the HL60s become parasitised, allowing for its use as antigen in indirect immunofluorescent antibody tests.

Applications Because current serologic methods for confirming a diagnosis of HGE rely upon a surrogate antigen, Ehrlichia equi in horse neutrophils or HL60, or an HGE-like agent of canine origin, this human derived strain may be more readily accepted by physicians or state health departments than other commerically available products. For Further Information Please Contact the Director of Business Development Vivian Berlin Email: [email protected] Telephone: (617) 495-0474

Inventor(s): Telford, Sam R

Type of Offer: Licensing



Next Patent »
« More Diagnostic Patents

Share on      


CrowdSell Your Patent