immunogenicity of the recombinant cryptococcus neoformans hsp70, a potential candidate for developing an elisa kit

Introduction: cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated fungal pathogen that causes lifethreatening meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised patients. this yeast secretes several potent immunogenic proteins by secretory vesicular mechanisms, such as hsp70 chaperone. methods: the pcramplified hsp70 gene was cloned into a pet28a(+) expression vector. the purified recombinant hsp70 (rhsp70) was evaluated by western blotting using an antihis taghrp antibody and then used for immunization of a rabbit. the serum of the immunized rabbit was tested against the whole lysate of c. neoformans in elisa. results: the antibodies in the rabbit rsquo;s serum recognized lysate of c. neoformans yeast. the highest antibody levels were achieved after the third booster injection. conclusion: the rhsp70 showed to be a reliable candidate for the designing and development of an elisa kit for early detection of cryptococcosis, and to screen a large number of specimens.