RAPID IDENTIFICATION OF CANDIDA-DUBLINIENSIS BY INDIRECT IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE BASED ON DIFFERENTIAL LOCALIZATION OF ANTIGENS ON C-DUBLINIENSIS BLASTOSPORES AND CANDIDA-ALBICANS GERM TUBES

These is a clear need for the development of a rapid and reliable test for the identification of Candida dubliniensis and for the discrimina tion of this species from Candida albicans. In the present study we ha ve investigated the potential use of C. dubliniensis-specific antigens as a basis for its identification. We produced an anti-C dubliniensis serum which, after adsorption with C. albicans blastospores, was foun d to differentially Babel C. dubliniensis isolates in an indirect immu nofluorescence test. In this test, the antiserum reacted with blastosp ores and germ tubes of C. dubliniensis and with blastospores of Candid a krusei and Rhodotorula rubra but did not react with blastospores of several other Candida species including C. albicans. The antiserum als o reacted with C. albicans germ tubes. The anti-C. dubliniensis adsorb ed serum reacted with specific components of 25, 28, 37, 40, 52, and 6 2 kDa in the C. dubliniensis extract and with a variety of antigens fr om other yeast species. The antigens from non-C. dubliniensis yeasts s howing reactivity with the anti-C. dubliniensis adsorbed serum are mos tly expressed within the cell walls of these yeast species, and this r eactivity does not interfere with the use of the anti-C. dubliniensis adsorbed serum in an indirect immunofluorescence test for the rapid id entification of C. dubliniensis.