Cytoplasmic antigens for detection of candida

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a means of diagnosing Candida infection. In particular the present invention relates to a method of diagnosing Candida infection by measuring the levels of antibody to Candida cytoplasmic antigen present in a biological sample taken from a subject at risk of, or suspected to be suffering from a Candida infection.

1 . A method of preparing a  Candida  antigen composition comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing  Candida albicans  yeast cells;   (b) disrupting said yeast cells to produce a cell lysate;   (c) clarifying said cell lysate to produce a soluble cytoplasmic antigen fraction;   (d) filtering and organically extracting said soluble cytoplasmic antigen fraction; and   (e) depleting soluble cell wall mannoprotein from said soluble cytoplasmic antigen fraction, to produce a soluble cytoplasmic antigen fraction comprising antigens of molecular weights 55 kDa, 30 kDa and 20 kDa.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the yeast cells are disrupted by mechanical disruption. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (c) is performed by centrifugation. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the filtration of step (d) is performed by using a filter that has a 0.45 μm filter membrane. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the organic extraction of step (d) is a chloroform extraction. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (e) is performed by Con A-Sepharose chromatography.