Enzyme immunoassays for invasive Candida infections: reactivity of somatic antigens of Candida albicans

Abstract

The main problem encountered with serodiagnostic tests for Candida infections is their failure to differentiate between invasive and superficial candidosis. Recent immunoblotting studies suggested that the use of selective somatic proteins of Candida albicans as antigens might be a promising approach toward developing a new generation of serodiagnostic assays. In this study major cytoplasmic protein antigens with molecular weights of 47,000 (47K), 46,000 (46K), 45,000 (45K), and 29,000 (29K) were identified as potential marker antigens for antibody detection in invasive candidosis. Continuous-flow isoelectric focusing was employed to enrich the proteins in two fractions, one of them containing the 47K and 29K proteins and the other one containing predominantly the 47K and 45K major proteins. These antigens and a whole somatic antigen extract were used to establish enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) for antibody detection. Whereas all tests were able to discriminate between patients with invasive candidosis (n = 27) and normal healthy volunteers (n = 167), as proved by graphic marker analysis, the selective antigen EIAs were highly superior to the whole somatic antigen EIA and two serological standard assays (indirect immunofluorescence assay and indirect hemagglutination assay) when a panel of sera from patients with superficial candidosis (n = 34) was used as a negative control group. The use of the 47K-29K antigen fraction allowed the best differentiation between invasive and noninvasive candidosis. The corresponding immunoglobulin G class-specific EIA had a sensitivity of 81.5% and a specificity of 97% for both negative control groups as well.