Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and serologic responses to Pneumocystis jiroveci

Emerg Infect Dis. 2004 May;10(5):848-54. doi: 10.3201/eid1005.030497.

Abstract

Seroepidemiologic studies of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in humans have been limited by inadequate reagents. We have developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using three overlapping recombinant fragments of the human Pneumocystis major surface glycoprotein (MsgA, MsgB, and MsgC) for analysis of antibody responses in HIV-positive patients and healthy blood donors. HIV-positive patients had significantly higher antibody levels to all Msg fragments. Furthermore, HIV-positive patients who experienced a previous episode of PCP (PCP-positive) had higher levels of antibodies to MsgC than patients who never had PCP. A significant association was found between ELISA antibody level and reactivity by Western blot in HIV-positive patients, especially those who were PCP-positive. Thus, this ELISA will be useful in studying serum antibody responses to Pneumocystis in different human populations.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / diagnosis
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / microbiology
  • Antibodies, Fungal / blood*
  • Antigens, Fungal / genetics
  • Antigens, Fungal / immunology
  • Blood Donors
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Fungal Proteins / genetics
  • Fungal Proteins / immunology
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • Humans
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / immunology
  • Pneumocystis / immunology*
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / diagnosis*
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / microbiology
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies

Substances

  • Antibodies, Fungal
  • Antigens, Fungal
  • Fungal Proteins
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Recombinant Proteins