Antibody levels to Candida albicans carbohydrate and major cytoplasmic antigens isolated from standard and patient strains.
A solid phase radioimmunoassay (RIA) and ELISA were used to detect human antibodies to Candida albicans (CA) organisms or purified fractions, namely, carbohydrate-rich fraction (CRF) and cytoplasmic peptides (SSF) of CA. IgG antibodies to either whole organisms or to CRF were found in sera obtained from patients with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMCC) or digestive candidiasis, as well as in healthy control sera. In patient sera, no correlation between the clinical stage of disease and the IgG anti-CRF levels was found. In contrast, antibodies to SSF were absent in healthy control sera. IgM anti-SSF in the absence of IgG anti-SSF were found in sera of patients with recent digestive candidiasis, and low levels of IgM and IgG Ab were detected in sera of CMCC patients. The lack of correlation between IgG anti-CRF levels and clinical status can, in part, be explained by the individual variability of Candida strains and by the inadequacy of the laboratory standard antigens in the antibody assays used. The clinical relevance of different tests to detect anti-CA antibodies is discussed.
D000818:Animals; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000276:immunology*; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006041:Goats / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000379:methods
D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D002241:Carbohydrates