Rat Monoclonal Antibodies Against Exocellular Carbohydrate Antigens of Aspergillus and Dermatophytes. In: Latgé JP, Boucias D, editors. Fungal Cell Wall and Immune Response. Berlin: Springer Berlin Heidelberg; 1991. pp. 181-93. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-76074-7_14]

Production of an anti-dermatophyte monoclonal antibody and its application: immunochromatographic detection of dermatophytes

Tinea refers to superficial infection with one of three fungal genera-Microsporum, Epidermophyton, or Trichophyton-that are collectively known as dermatophytes. These infections are among the most common diseases worldwide and cause chronic morbidity. They are usually diagnosed by direct microscopy and fungal culture, which are burdensome to perform in the clinical setting. To supplement conventional methods, we developed a new method that employs an immunochromatography test for detection of dermatophyte infections. First, anti-Trichophyton monoclonal antibodies (mAb) were produced in mice using a Trichophyton allergen solution as an immunogen. The mAb specificity was assessed by immunostaining alcohol fixed slide cultures and formalin fixed paraffin-embedded microbial samples. Both alcohol- and formalin-fixed samples of all seven species of Trichophyton tested displayed positive immunostaining. Immunochromatography test strips were created using the anti-Trichophyton mAb. The efficiency of the test strip was assessed in patients diagnosed with tinea unguium and in healthy volunteers. Of the 20 patient nails tested, 19 tested positive and one tested negative, whereas of the 17 volunteer nails, only one tested positive. However, KOH microscopic examination of the volunteer nail that tested positive revealed the existence of Trichophyton hyphae. Although the number of nails assayed was small, since the assay had a sensitivity of 95.0% (19/20) and a specificity of 94.1% (16/17), the obtained results were considered to be promising. Thus, while further investigation with a greater number of samples is necessary, this method could potentially be employed as a new diagnostic tool for Trichophyton in the future.

Development of murine monoclonal antibodies for the immunohistochemical diagnosis of systemic bovine aspergillosis

Murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against water-soluble somatic antigens (WSSA) and the wall fraction (WF) from Aspergillus fumigatus were produced by fusion of splenocytes from immunized BALB/c mice with mouse myeloma X63-Ag 8.653 cells. The supernatants of in vitro cultured hybridomas were initially screened for reactivity with the WSSA and the WF from A. fumigatus and WSSA of other fungi in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Supernatants reacting only with A. fumigatus antigens were subsequently screened for homologous and heterologous reactivity with immunohistochemical techniques using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from experimentally infected mice. Because of a high immunohistochemical reactivity with homologous fungi, 4 MAbs raised against A. fumigatus WSSA and WF were selected for a further evaluation of cross-reactivity (diagnostic specificity) in immunohistochemical and immunoblotting assays. In immunohistochemical assays, all MAbs raised against WSSA cross-reacted heavily with a number of other fungal species. All 4 MAbs (MAb-WF-AF-1-4) raised against the WF reacted strongly with hyphae of Aspergillus spp.; hyphae of Scedosporium apiospermum were also strongly labeled by MAb-WF-AF-3 and -4. The 2 specifically reacting MAbs (MAb-WF-AF-1 and -2) were of the IgM biotype and were precipitating, and in immunoblotting experiments both bound to a 106-kD antigen of the WF, whereas they did not bind to WSSA of A. fumigatus. One of the 2 aspergillosis-specific MAbs (MAb-WF-AF-1) was used to screen 145 mycotic lesions of cattle. The diagnoses on bovine lesions obtained by MAb-WF-AF-1 were compared with results based on reactivity with heterologously absorbed polyclonal antibodies and, for some lesions, to culture results. In the vast majority of lesions (n = 133), the MAb-WF-AF-1 and the polyclonal anti-Aspergillus antibodies reacted in a similar pattern, i.e., positively in 41 aspergillosis lesions and negatively in 92 zygomycotic lesions. Hyphae in 3 of 12 lesions that were not stained by the polyclonal antibodies reacted with the specific MAb-WF-AF-1; i.e., aspergillosis was diagnosed. The characteristics of the 2 MAbs (MAb-WF-AF-1 and -2) raised against the WF of A. fumigatus in ELISA and immunoblotting and immunohistochemical assays justify their application for the in situ diagnosis of systemic aspergillosis of cattle.

Detection of galactomannan and the 18 kDa antigen from Aspergillus fumigatus in serum and urine from cattle with systemic aspergillosis

Serum and urine samples from cattle with experimental and spontaneous systemic mycotic infections were tested for the presence of galactomannan and the 18 kDa antigen from Aspergillus fumigatus by an inhibition ELISA and immunoblotting, respectively. High levels of galactomannan (approximately 80 ng/ml.) were detected in serum from two of three calves experimentally infected with A. fumigatus. In two out of three cows with spontaneous acquired aspergillosis a similar amount of galactomannan was detected. Galactomannan was not found in serum samples of 20 cows which aborted due to either experimental or spontaneous placental aspergillosis. Twenty-four of forty urine samples from normal cattle reacted positively in the ELISA, consequently, the assay was not applicable on bovine urine. The 18 kDa antigen from A. fumigatus was detected in the urine from one calf out of three calves experimentally infected with aspergillosis and in the urine from one cow with spontaneous aspergillosis. It is concluded that detection of galactomannan in serum and the 18 kDa antigen in urine may be used as an aid for the diagnosis of disseminated bovine aspergillosis with the exception of placental and probably gastrointestinal localization.

Enzyme immunohistochemistry with mono- and polyclonal antibodies in the pathological diagnosis of systemic bovine mycoses

To improve the immunohistopathological diagnosis of systemic bovine mycoses, we have evaluated the utility of antifungal polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, and peroxidase and alkaline phosphatase staining techniques. A rabbit polyclonal antibody to mannan from Candida albicans was specific for candidosis. The diagnosis of aspergillosis was accomplished using a rat monoclonal antibody to the galactofuran side chains of Aspergillus galactomannan. A murine monoclonal antibody reacting with weakly Con-A binding 41 and 46 kDa somatic antigens from Absidia corymbifera was used for immunostaining of zygomycetic hyphae. Peroxidase antiperoxidase (PAP) and alkaline phosphatase antialkaline phosphatase (APAAP) complexes were visualized using aminoethylcarbazole and fast red substrates. A green staining of PAP reactions with dioctyl sulfosuccinate sodium and 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (DONS/TMB) was effective for the demonstration of fungi in dual and triple infections. Tissue sections of experimentally infected mice were used to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the antibodies. Tissues obtained from 161 bovine mycotic lesions previously studied by indirect immunofluorescence staining were further evaluated using the three antibodies. In all of 45 lesions solely affected by aspergillosis and in three solely affected by candidosis the diagnoses were confirmed by the new evaluation. In 85 of 96 cases of single infections with zygomycetes the diagnosis was confirmed, while none of the antibodies reacted with fungal elements in the remaining 11 lesions. Aspergillus hyphae were detected in all three lesions with dual aspergillosis and zygomycosis, whereas zygomycetic material was confirmed in only two of these cases. A mixed infection of candidosis and zygomycosis in a lymph node was confirmed too. In 13 cases in which a diagnosis had not hitherto been obtained, aspergillosis and zygomycosis were recorded each in three cases.