A New Phenomenon (SMOG) Associated with Solid Phase Immune Electron Microscopy

Solid phase immune electron microscopy (SPIEM) has been used to study the interaction of virus and antibody both quickly and with economy of reagents. Unexpectedly, the present study shows that when virus-coated grids are floated on drops of specific antibody the virus particles migrate to form complexes. This has been termed specific migration on the grid (SMOG) and it is suggested that it can be used both to assess the properties of an antiserum and to make virus more readily detectable. The mechanism by which SMOG occurs is not understood but various possibilities are discussed.