title: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and serologic responses to Pneumocystis jiroveci.
abstract: Seroepidemiologic studies of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in humans have been limited by inadequate reagents. We have developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using three overlapping recombinant fragments of the human Pneumocystis major surface glycoprotein (MsgA, MsgB, and MsgC) for analysis of antibody responses in HIV-positive patients and healthy blood donors. HIV-positive patients had significantly higher antibody levels to all Msg fragments. Furthermore, HIV-positive patients who experienced a previous episode of PCP (PCP-positive) had higher levels of antibodies to MsgC than patients who never had PCP. A significant association was found between ELISA antibody level and reactivity by Western blot in HIV-positive patients, especially those who were PCP-positive. Thus, this ELISA will be useful in studying serum antibody responses to Pneumocystis in different human populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0560, USA. kieran.daly@uc.edu
authors.forename: Kieran R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Daly
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Walzer
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000097:blood*; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001782:Blood Donors; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011010:Pneumocystis / Q000276:immunology*; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins