Recombinant antigens as diagnostic markers for aspergillosis.
Eight recombinant proteins and purified galactomannan of Aspergillus fumigatus were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to quantify the anti-Aspergillus antibodies in sera of patients with aspergilloma, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), and invasive aspergillosis (IA). In spite of the variability observed in the immune responses of individual patients, quantification of the antibody titers against the 18-kDa ribonuclease (RNU), the 360-kDa catalase (CAT), and the 88-kDa dipeptidylpeptidase V (DPPV) was useful for the diagnosis of aspergilloma and ABPA. Differential diagnosis of ABPA was even possible among cystic fibrosis as well as noncystic fibrosis patients. In the group of immunocompromised patients with IA, no antibody response was mounted in response to the Aspergillus infection in any of the patients. Interestingly, about half of the patients with proven IA came to the hospital with high titers of anti-Aspergillus antibodies, suggesting that they were infected upon entry to the hospital. These results suggest that recombinant RNU, CAT, and DPPV have a great potential in the serodiagnosis of all forms of aspergillosis in the immunocompromised and immunocompetent patient.
Sarfati
Jacqueline
J
Unité des Aspergillus, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France.
Monod
Michael
M
Recco
Paulette
P
Sulahian
Annie
A
Pinel
Claudine
C
Candolfi
Ermanno
E
Fontaine
Thierry
T
Debeaupuis
Jean-Paul
JP
Tabouret
Marc
M
Latgé
Jean-Paul
JP
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D011994:Recombinant Proteins