A Lateral-Flow Device for the Rapid Detection of <i>Scedosporium</i> Species

oleh: Genna E. Davies, Christopher R. Thornton

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2024-04-01

Deskripsi

<i>Scedosporium</i> species are human pathogenic fungi, responsible for chronic, localised, and life-threatening disseminated infections in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals. The diagnosis of <i>Scedosporium</i> infections currently relies on non-specific CT, lengthy and insensitive culture from invasive biopsy, and the time-consuming histopathology of tissue samples. At present, there are no rapid antigen tests that detect <i>Scedosporium</i>-specific biomarkers. Here, we report the development of a rapid (30 min) and sensitive (pmol/L sensitivity) lateral-flow device (LFD) test, incorporating a <i>Scedosporium</i>-specific IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb), HG12, which binds to extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) antigens between ~15 kDa and 250 kDa secreted during the hyphal growth of the pathogens. The test is compatible with human serum and allows for the detection of the <i>Scedosporium</i> species most frequently reported as agents of human disease (<i>Scedosporium apiospermum</i>, <i>Scedosporium aurantiacum</i>, and <i>Scedosporium boydii</i>), with limits of detection (LODs) of the EPS biomarkers in human serum of ~0.81 ng/mL (<i>S. apiospermum</i>), ~0.94 ng/mL (<i>S. aurantiacum</i>), and ~1.95 ng/mL (<i>S. boydii</i>). The <i>Scedosporium</i>-specific LFD (<i>Sced</i>LFD) test therefore provides a potential novel opportunity for the detection of infections caused by different <i>Scedosporium</i> species.