Evaluation and identification of allergenic bands caused by A. alternata, P. citrinum and A. fumigatus in the asthmatic patients using immunoblotting approaches

Subject Areas : Medical Microbiology

Azar Sabokbar ¹ ( Associated Professor, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Alborz, Iran. )
Amir Bakhtiari ² ( M.Sc., Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Alborz, Iran. )
Mojgan Saghazadeh ³ ( Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Qom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran. )

Received: 2014-02-27 Accepted : 2014-05-29 Published : 2014-10-01

Keywords: Asthma, Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus fumigatus, Penicillium citrinum, IgE-immunoblotting,

Abstract :

Background & Objectives: Several studies have shown that fungi can cause allergenic asthma in the susceptible persons. Among these fungi, Alternaria, Penicillium and Aspergillus species are more common in this cases. This study was performed to detect and to compare allergenic bands in A.alternata, P.citrinum and A.fumigatus. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 48 patients afflicted to asthma and 22 healthy controls. The fungi were grown and their extract crude were obtained using the liquid nitrogen. The protein fractions were isolated by SDS-PAGE and after electrotransfering and transfer of the bands into the nitrocellulose membrane, the proteins were used for immunoblotting against the sera obtained from patients and controls. Results: Based on the immunobloting test, 6 protein allergenic bands for A. alternata (49-115 kDa), 4 protein bands for A. fumigatus (57-112 kDa) and 5 protein bands for P. citrinum (37-127 kDa) are detected in these samples. Conclusion: The highest amount of allergic band belonged to A. alternate. The bands with higher molecular weights were more effective in stimulation of IgE.