Patent ID: 6979534
Filing Date: 2005-12-27
Classification: C07K

Abstract:
1. A method of detecting cell agglutination, comprising providing a mixture comprising a population of cells and a population of bacteriophage expressing a first antibody on the surface of said bacteriophage, said first antibody being specific for an antigen expressed by at least a portion of the cells in said cell population, wherein said first antibody binds to said portion of said cells causing said bacteriophage to also bind to said portion of said cells, adding said mixture to a microtube containing inert particles in an amount sufficient to form a column, and a second antibody specific for said bacteriophage, wherein said second antibody binds to said bacteriophage, allowing said mixture to sediment through said column under the force of gravity, and observing the location of said portion of said cells, wherein strong agglutination of said portion of said cells is indicated by the cells being located upon or within a top layer of said inert particles and weak agglutination of said cells is indicated by the cells being located within a lower layer of said inert particles and no agglutination is indicated by the cells being located at the bottom of said microtube.