Quantification of the Aspergillus versicolor allergen in house dust

Area of Science:

• Environmental microbiology
• Allergen detection
• Immunological assays

Background:

• Aspergillus versicolor is a common indoor fungus found on damp materials.
• It produces Asp v 13, a significant allergen.
• Accurate detection of fungal allergens in house dust is crucial for allergy management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detecting Aspergillus versicolor spores and its allergen, Asp v 13, in house dust.
• To establish the detection limits of the assay for both the allergen and fungal spores in various matrices.

Main Methods:

• A double polyclonal capture ELISA was developed for Asp v 13 detection.
• The assay was optimized for quantifying Asp v 13 antigen and A. versicolor spores.
• Detection limits were determined for purified antigen and spores, and subsequently in sieved house dust samples.

Main Results:

• The assay demonstrated high sensitivity with low detection limits for Asp v 13 antigen (2.44 pg) and A. versicolor spores (12 ng, approx. 110 spores) without dust.
• In house dust, detection limits were 1.0 ng/g for Asp v 13 and 7.8 μg/g for A. versicolor spores.
• These detection limits are superior to those reported for other common indoor fungal allergens.

Conclusions:

• The developed capture ELISA is a sensitive tool for quantifying Asp v 13 and A. versicolor spores in house dust.
• This assay facilitates improved monitoring of exposure to this common indoor allergen.
• The method's sensitivity surpasses existing immunoassays for other prevalent indoor allergens.