Phycoerythrin (PE)-conjugated anti-pig primary antibodies are directly labeled immunoreagents that enable single-step detection of porcine antigens. These reagents are essential in swine immunology, which faces a less mature reagent landscape than human or mouse research. The PE fluorophore provides excellent brightness and is excited by the 488 nm laser, making it compatible with standard flow cytometers. Its emission is well-separated from other channels, facilitating multicolor panel design. The combination of PE's strong signal with the specificity of monoclonal antibodies allows for precise immunophenotyping of porcine immune cell subsets.
Applications
PE-conjugated anti-pig primary antibodies are predominantly used in flow cytometry. Common targets include CD3ε (clone PPT3) for identifying T lymphocytes, CD4 (clone 74-12-4) for helper T cells, and CD8α (clone 76-2-11) for cytotoxic T cells. The PE-based detection of CD16 (clone G7) is also useful for analyzing granulocytes and monocytes. These reagents enable the detailed analysis of T cell subsets in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Beyond flow cytometry, some clones are validated for immunohistochemistry on frozen or paraffin-embedded sections, Western blotting, and immunoprecipitation. The bright PE signal allows for single-step staining, reducing assay time and avoiding cross-reactivity issues from secondary reagents.
