Production and characterization of a monoclonal antibody to a major concanavalin A--nonbinding antigen of Aspergillus fumigatus
Kumar, A.; Kurup, V.P.; Greenberger, P.A.; Fink, J.N.
Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine 121(3): 431-436
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-2143 PMID: 8445291 Document Number: 407254
A hybridoma secreting immunoglobulin G-1 antibody was produced against Aspergillus fumigatus. In this study we used interleukin-4 as a growth factor to augment the survival and multiplication of immunoglobulin G-1-secreting hybridomas. The antigen recognized by this monoclonal antibody is a low-molecular weight concanavalin A-nonbinding component of A. fumigatus. The monoclonal antibody affinity-purified antigens showed specific reactivity with serum from patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, whereas all allergic asthmatic patients with skin-test reactivity to A. fumigatus demonstrated only low levels of antibodies similar to those in normal control subjects. This antigen failed to show cross-reactivity with other fungal antigens. These results indicate that this monoclonal antibody can be used for the purification of specific antigens used in the immunodiagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.