Abstract
We have used an Aspergillus fumigatus culture filtrate antigen for serodiagnostic methods, however, this antigen does not dissolve completely in distilled water. To improve this and other problems, we prepared 10 different antigens and carried out comparative studies on them. The antigens were prepared from filtrates of culture of A. fumigatus that had been incubated at 25°C for 1-10 weeks in Sabouraud liquid medium.
Based on the results of double diffusion methods, the antigen obtained after 6 weeks of culture was most effective for double diffusion tests against the sera of aspergilloma patients. Immunoelectrophoresis showed more precipitin lines with antigens obtained after 9 and 10 weeks of culture than with other antigens. Some cross precipitin lines have appeared in double diffusions, however, so we surmise that several changes occurred in the cultures.
In conclusion, we found that the antigen obtained from 6-week culture filtrates at 25°C is more useful than the antigen obtained from 3-week culture filtrates at 37°C for demonstrating precipitin reactions against the sera of aspergilloma patients.
