title: Antigens of Coccidioides posadasii as an important tool for the immunodiagnosis of coccidioidomycosis.
abstract: Serologic diagnosis has been presented as a safe alternative for coccidioidomycosis. However, commercial kits based on coccidioidal antibodies available in the USA are considered too expensive for laboratories outside that country. In this study, we describe the preparation of antigens for detection of human coccidioidal antibodies by the immunodiffusion test (ID) and enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Antigens were tested against serum samples from patients with coccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis and paracoccidioidomycosis, as well as healthy individuals. The highest reactivity in the ID tests was seen in the F0-90 antigen. In the EIAs, the best results were obtained with the F60-90 antigen. None of the serum samples from healthy individuals were recognized by any of the antigen extracts tested by ID or EIA. In conclusion, the F0-90 and F60-90 antigens have the potential to be commercially employed in presumptive diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis by ID or EIA, respectively. The tests could improve serological diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis in South America.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil. rossanacordeiro@ufc.br
authors.forename: Rossana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Aguiar Cordeiro
authors.forename: Kharla Rabelo Nobre
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Patoilo
authors.forename: Silviane Bandeira
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Praciano
authors.forename: Delia Jessica Astete
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Medrano
authors.forename: Francisca Jakelyne
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: de Farias Marques
authors.forename: Liline Maria Soares
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Kelsen Dantas
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Eulalio
authors.forename: Antônio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Deus Filho
authors.forename: Maria do Amparo Salmito
authors.initials: Mdo A
authors.lastname: Cavalvanti
authors.forename: Maria Auxiliadora Bezerra
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fechine
authors.forename: Raimunda Samia Nogueira
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Brilhante
authors.forename: Zoilo Pires
authors.initials: ZP
authors.lastname: de Camargo
authors.forename: Marcos Fábio Gadelha
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: José Júlio Costa
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sidrim
mesh_terms: D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000097:blood*; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D003045:Coccidioides / Q000276:immunology*; D003047:Coccidioidomycosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007159:Immunologic Tests / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D000946:Antigens, Fungal