Cloning and expression of recombinant Aspergillus fumigatus allergen I/a (rAsp f I/a) with IgE binding and type I skin test activity.

Aspergillus fumigatus secretes an 18-kDa nonglycosylated IgE-binding protein. This protein was previously shown to be a ribotoxin, like alpha-sarcin and mitogillin. A 686-bp long A. fumigatus cDNA encoding an 18-kDa ribotoxin was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein with six adjacent histidines (rAsp f I/a). rAsp f I/a was purified to homogeneity by Ni(2+)-chelate affinity chromatography and refolded. The recombinant protein was enzymatically active resulting in the cleavage of 28S rRNA within a universally conserved region. rAsp f I/a was cytotoxic for EBV immortalized or PHA stimulated human PBMC. Furthermore, rAsp f I/a was recognized by murine mAb made against an 18-kDa ribotoxin. IgE of individuals allergic to A. fumigatus bound to rAsp f I/a as shown by ELISA, dot blots, and Western blots. rAsp f I/a elicited positive immediate type I skin reactions in individuals allergic to A. fumigatus but not in healthy control individuals. The results show that rAsp f I/a has similar functional characteristics when compared to the native 18-kDa ribotoxin. rAsp f I/a expressed in E. coli can therefore be used as a standardized Ag/allergen for serologic and clinical diagnosis of A. fumigatus-associated diseases.