A modified cytoplasmic antigen of Candida albicans for serodiagnosis of systemic candidiasis

A modified cytoplasmic antigen, prepared by Natamycin degradation of Candida albicans cells is described. The reactivity of this antigen in detecting precipitins to Candida albicans proved tobe very similar qualitatively and quantitatively to a standardised reference antigen, prepared by X-press disruption when both were compared by immunological techniques; the majority of antigenic components in each proving to be identical. When tested against 127 human sera of unknown antibody content the two antigens showed 100% correlation by counterimmunoelectrophoresis and 87.5% correlation by double diffusion. The modified antigen proved to be reproducible and reliable in use and is easily prepared in the routine laboratory.