IMMUNODIAGNOSIS OF ALLERGIC BRONCHOPULMONARY ASPERGILLOSIS

Detection of Aspergillus-specific serum antibodies aids in the diagnosis of ABPA. The antigens of A. fumigatus, the fungus predominantly implicated in ABPA, are highly visible and consist of a heterogeneous mixture of proteins, carbohydrates, and glycoproteins. With recent advancement in bioseparation, hybridoma, and molecular biology techniques, well-characterized and purified antigens of A. fumigatus have been obtained. The use of these standardized antigens may be an aid in increasing the sensitivity and specificity of immunodiagnosis in ABPA.