Murine monoclonal antibodies to glycoprotein antigens of Aspergillus fumigatus show cross-reactivity with other fungi.

Six monoclonal antibodies produced against Aspergillus fumigatus were studied for their cross-reactivity against other fungal antigens from related and unrelated organisms. Five of the monoclonal antibodies reacted with glycoprotein antigens as evidenced by their binding to concanavalin A, although one did not react with concanavalin A. The reactivities of the monoclonal antibodies with various antigens were studied by biotin-avidin linked immunosorbent assay and Western blots. The results indicate that two monoclonal antibodies (Asp D1 and Asp C9) react with antigens from aspergilli as well as other fungi including Penicillium notatum and Candida albicans, whereas three of six antibodies (Asp H10, Asp ILB8, and Asp C2B1) react with A. fumigatus antigen only. Hence, these monoclonal antibodies can be used to obtain group specific and species specific antigens for various immunodiagnostic assays.