Identification of virus-specific oligoclonal bands in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis by immunofixation after isoelectric focusing and peroxidase staining

We developed a sensitive peroxidase staining procedure to identify oligoclonal band specificity in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis by subjecting serum and cerebrospinal fluid to isoelectric focusing and immunofixation with measles virus. The gel was washed and stained with horseradish peroxidase-conjugated goat antihuman immunoglobulin G. The samples showed dark brown measles-specific oligoclonal bands in the alkaline pH region of the gel, whereas the controls showed no significant staining. This technique may be useful in identifying specific antibody activity against viral and other antigens in oligoclonal bands in cerebrospinal fluid and serum.