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Recombinant Coccidioides immitis complement-fixing antigen: detection of an epitope shared by C. immitis, Histoplasma

M C Yang1, D M Magee, L Kaufman

  • 1Department of Clinical Investigation, Texas Center for Infectious Disease, San Antonio 78223, USA.

Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology
|January 1, 1997
PubMed

Insights

A new recombinant antigen for Coccidioides immitis complement-fixing (CF) antibody detection shows higher sensitivity than coccidioidin. This improved diagnostic tool aids in differentiating coccidioidomycosis severity.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Coccidioidomycosis diagnosis relies on detecting complement-fixing (CF) antibodies.
  • Existing diagnostic antigens like coccidioidin have limitations in sensitivity and specificity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate a novel recombinant Coccidioides immitis CF antigen for detecting CF antibodies.
  • To compare the diagnostic utility of the recombinant antigen against a commercial coccidioidin.

Main Methods:

  • Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were employed.
  • Sera from patients with active coccidioidomycosis were tested.
  • Recombinant CF antigen and commercial coccidioidin were used for antibody detection.

Main Results:

  • The recombinant CF antigen demonstrated high reactivity with all tested sera (19/19).
  • Recombinant antigen showed significantly higher sensitivity than coccidioidin (median titer 1:51,200 vs. 1:25,600, P < 0.027).
  • The antigen differentiated antibody levels between pulmonary and disseminated coccidioidomycosis.

Conclusions:

  • The recombinant Coccidioides immitis CF antigen is a sensitive and potentially superior tool for diagnosing coccidioidomycosis.
  • Further investigation is needed regarding cross-reactivity with other fungal infections like histoplasmosis and blastomycosis.

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