Diagnosis of histoplasmosis using antigens specific for H. capsulatum
AssigneeBarnes-Jewish Hospital
InventorsGary J. Weil, Ramaswamy Chandrashekar
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Abstract
A method for identifying a protein antigen to a target fungus is disclosed. The method comprises screening expressed proteins from a cDNA gene expression library with antisera to the target fungus and cross-screening with antisera to a nontarget fungus. Antibodies to the protein antigen are also disclosed. Methods for detecting the presence or absence of the antibodies or of the protein antigen are also disclosed, as well as kits for performing such assays. In preferred embodiments, the target fungus is H. capsulatum.
Claims9
A method for determining the presence or absence of H. capsulatum antibodies in a mammal, the method comprising:
- obtaining an antibody-containing sample from the mammal,
- contacting the sample with a protein antigen of H. capsulatum which has an amino acid sequence that includes a portion at least five amino acids in length of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:
- 3, and which portion is bound by antibodies to H. capsulatum but which is not substantially bound by antibodies to Coccidioides immitis, Blastomyces dermatitidis and Candida sp., and determining whether an antibody in the sample immunoreacts with the protein antigen of H. capsulatum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.