title: Use of a monoclonal antibody in a dot immunobinding assay for detection of a circulating mannoprotein of Candida spp. in neutropenic patients with invasive candidiasis.
abstract: A dot immunobinding assay for the detection of a circulating mannoprotein (MP) antigen of Candida species in the sera of neutropenic patients in a hematological setting is described. The technique is based on the use of a monoclonal antibody which recognizes an oligomannoside epitope shared by distinct MP of pathogenic Candida species. The sensitivity of the assay for antigen detection in serum was between 2 and 5 ng/ml, and MPs from Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Torulopsis glabrata, and Candida parapsilosis, but not Candida krusei, could be detected. A retrospective analysis of sera from patients with proven invasive candidiasis versus sera from controls (Candida-colonized and noncolonized subjects) revealed that the novel assay has sufficient sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values to be of potential diagnostic significance.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Bacteriology and Medical Mycology, Instituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Bernardis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Girmenia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boccanera
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adriani
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cassone
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000097:blood; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C025363:mannoproteins