ANTIGENIC VARIABILITY OF ASPERGILLUS-FUMIGATUS STRAINS

Abstract

The effect of culture media, temperature of incubation and continuous shaking of cultures on the reactivity and yield of antigens of A. fumigatus were evaluated. AOAC medium was superior to Czapek medium and shake cultures yielded better results than stationary cultures. Antigens from stationary cultures in AOAC medium incubated at 30.degree. C for 3 wk were equally as good as antigens obtained from 2 wk old shake cultures. Antigens from 11 selected strains of A. fumigatus were used to test antibody activity in 33 sera from patients with various forms of aspergillosis and 35 normal controls by the agar gel double-diffusion method. The results showed that the reactivity of individual antigens varied from 42-87%, indicating that antigens from more than 1 strain of A. fumigatus may be used. The cross-reactivity between strains were studied by 2-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis. The use of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and crossed immunoelectrophoresis in the quality assurance of Aspergillus antigens is discussed.