Elements ofG Research Articles

SPECIFIC FLUORESCENT ANTIGLOBULINS FOR THE DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF BLASTOMYCES DERMATITIDIS YEAST-PHASE CELLS.

Two lots of rabbit anti-Blastomyces dermatitidis globulins were conjugated with fluorescein isothiocyanate. These reagents stained brightly elements of the yeast and mycelial phases of 10 strains ofB. dermatitidis. In addition, the labeled antibodies cross-reacted with elements of the yeast and mycelial phases of 7 strains ofHistoplasma capsulatum and cells of numerous other heterologous fungi. Adsorption of one lot of labeled antibodies twice with yeast cells ofH. capsulatum and once with elements ofGeotrichum candidum rendered the conjugate specific for the yeast phase ofB. dermatitidis. Three adsorptions with yeast cells ofH. capsulatum followed by a single adsorption with elements ofG. candidum rendered the second conjugate specific for yeast-phase cells ofB. dermatitidis. The specific reagents did not react with the mycelial phase of this fungus.