Extracción y caracterización de antígeno micelial de Aspergillus fumigatus

Abstract

This report describes the standardization and antigen characterisation of a mycelial extract of Aspergillus fumigatus, for the purpose of employing it later in pulmonary aspergillosis diagnostic tests. The mycelial antigen was evaluated using double-immunodiffusion (DD), counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE+ID) and enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) techniques, the results were compared with a reference antigen. The protein and carbohydrate concentrations of the mycelial antigen were 8,800 pg1mL and 2,452 pg/mL, respectively, being very similar to the reference antigen. The antigens analysed in the DD presented bands of partial and total identity. No precipitin bands were presented in DD and CIE+ID tests when both antigens with 20 negative sera were run. In the CIE+ID, precipitin bands were obsewed at the anodic and cathodic poles for both antigens. The cut-off value determined in the mycelial antigen ELISA test was 0.352 with a 95% confidence interval. It is possible to conclude that mycelial antigen can be used in diagnostic serological tests.