Positional Gene Cloning in Experimental Populations -- Generation of Transgenic Rats Using Lentiviral Vectors -- DNA Vaccination Techniques -- Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: Isolation, Freezing, Thawing, and Culture -- ELISPOT Techniques -- Isolation of Central Nervous System (CNS) Infiltrating Cells -- Methods for Ex Vivo Analysis of Immune Cell Function from the Central Nervous System -- Neurofilament Light Chain Determination from Peripheral Blood Samples -- Detection of Autoantibodies Against Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Diseases -- Myelinating Cultures: An In Vitro Tool to Identify Demyelinating and Axopathic Autoantibodies -- In Vivo Visualization of (Auto-) Immune Processes in the Central Nervous System of Rodents -- Optical Coherence Tomography to Assess Neurodegeneration in Multiple Sclerosis -- Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Mice -- Actively Induced Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Rats -- Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Marmosets -- Neuropathological Techniques to Investigate CNS Pathology in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) -- Neuropathological Techniques to Investigate Central Nervous System Sections in Multiple Sclerosis.

This detailed volume covers molecular biology, cellular biology, biomarkers, imaging, and neuropathological methods and techniques to explore multiple sclerosis (MS), with a special emphasis on disease models. With so much effort needed to elucidate basic disease mechanisms, to clone disease relevant genes, to define novel biomarkers, and to discover novel and improved therapeutic and curative treatments, this book serves to aid researchers in accomplishing these enormous goals.  Written for the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Practical and easy to use, Multiple Sclerosis: Methods and Protocols will empower the reader to perform novel research regarding pathophysiology and treatment for MS.