Identification of protein antigens from Candida albicans for fungal sepsis diagnostics
Acronym: CanSep
Principal Investigator: Dipl.-Biochem. Ting Luo
Scientific Advisor: Dr. Olaf Kniemeyer
Research Area: B Novel Diagnostic Tools and Approaches
Project Number: B3.5
Duration: 01.10.2011 - 30.09.2014
Module: PhD Fellowship
The Problem
Candida albicans is the most important fungal pathogen of nosocomial bloodstream infections (candidemia), which may lead to severe sepsis. The diagnosis of Candida infections remains difficult. By applying an immunoproteomic approach, we aim at identifying immunodominant antigens of C. albicans which could be used as serologic markers for an improved diagnosis of Candida sepsis.
Results so far
We are searching for C. albicans protein antigens of immunodiagnostic potential by using a combination of 2D-gel electrophoresis and Western-blotting. We have already been characterizing the antibody response against secreted C. albicans proteins in a murine model of candidemia. In preliminary experiments we determined the optimal medium and growth conditions. As a result of it, we use yeast nitrogen base (YNB) medium with sucrose as carbon source. We could show that the yeast secretome comprises particularly glycolytic enzymes, cell surface proteins, chaperones, antioxidative enzymes, proteases and so far uncharacterised proteins. In parallel, we monitored the kinetic of anti-C. albicans IgG antibody production in mice infected with C. albicans wild-type and virulence-attenuated mutant strains. First Candida-specific IgG-antibodies are detectable after 5-8 days, but the diversity of the antibody response increases at later time points (after 14 days).
Contact
Tel. +49 (0)3641 - 532 1071
Fax +49 (0)3641 - 532 0803
Leibniz-Institut für Naturstoff-Forschung und Infektionsbiologie e. V.
Hans-Knöll-Institut (HKI)
Molekulare und Angewandte Mikrobiologie
Beutenbergstr. 11a
07745 Jena