What are the applications of cross-reactivity?

There are various applications of cross-reactivity. Cross-reactivity in antibodies can enhance their usefulness by allowing them to detect similar proteins across different organisms. For instance, antibodies designed for human antigens often show reactivity with corresponding proteins in other species like mice, rabbits or rats. This ability to cross-react can help in various ways, such as explaining immunopathological processes, aiding in immune response research for challenging antigens or diagnosing infectious diseases. In clinical settings, cross-reactivity is utilized in heterophile antibody tests, which swiftly detect antibodies against viruses like Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Additionally, examining protein arrays with antibodies enables the evaluation of how precisely each antibody recognizes its intended target and cross-reactivity with other proteins on the array at the same time. In specific, cross-reactivity plays a crucial role in evaluating the specificity and validity of assays like RIA and ELISA, ensuring their accuracy in detecting specific proteins of interest.