The Experts below are selected from a list of 1704 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform

Rebecca D. Prevots - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

Amy E. Seitz - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

Joseph L Wheat - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • development of a highly sensitive and specific Blastomycosis antibody enzyme immunoassay using blastomyces dermatitidis surface protein bad 1
    Clinical and Vaccine Immunology, 2014
    Co-Authors: Sarah M Richer, Bruce S. Klein, Melinda Smedema, Michelle Durkin, Tristan T Brandhorst, Chadi A Hage, Patricia Connolly, Diane S Leland, Thomas E Davis, Joseph L Wheat
    Abstract:

    Serologic tests for antibodies to Blastomyces dermatitidis are not thought to be useful for the diagnosis of Blastomycosis, in part due to the low sensitivity of immunodiffusion and complement fixation. Earlier studies have shown that the enzyme immunoassay improves the sensitivity of antibody detection for the diagnosis of Blastomycosis. Microplates coated with the B. dermatitidis surface protein BAD-1 were used for testing sera from patients with proven Blastomycosis or histoplasmosis and controls. Semiquantification was accomplished by using standards containing human anti-B. dermatitidis antibodies. The antibodies were detected in 87.8% of the patients with Blastomycosis by the enzyme immunoassay compared to 15.0% by immunodiffusion. The specificities were 99.2% for patients with nonfungal infections and healthy subjects and 94.0% for patients with histoplasmosis. The results were highly reproducible on repeat testing. When combined with antigen testing, antibody testing improved the sensitivity from 87.8% to 97.6%. Enzyme immunoassay detection of antibodies against BAD-1 is highly specific, has greatly improved sensitivity over immunodiffusion, and may identify cases with negative results by antigen testing. This assay has the potential to aid in the diagnosis of Blastomycosis.

  • detection of blastomyces dermatitidis antigen in patients with newly diagnosed Blastomycosis
    Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease, 2011
    Co-Authors: Ryan J Bariola, Michelle Durkin, Chadi A Hage, Joseph L Wheat, Eric S Bensadoun, Paul O Gubbins, Robert W Bradsher
    Abstract:

    Blastomycosis is a serious and potentially fatal infection, and diagnosis can be difficult at times. We evaluated the diagnostic utility of a commercially available assay for detection of Blastomyces dermatitidis antigen, recently modified to permit quantitation, in subjects with newly diagnosed Blastomycosis. Twenty-three of 27 (85.1%) subjects had detectable B. dermatitidis antigenuria. In 2 of these 23, positive results were obtained after concentration of the urine specimen. Nine of 11 (81.8%) subjects had detectable B. dermatitidis antigen in serum, including 3 subjects with negative results before treatment of serum with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and positive results after EDTA treatment. B. dermatitidis antigen was not detected in specimens from 50 control subjects but was detected in 15 patients with histoplasmosis. B. dermatitidis antigen was detected in most of the patients with Blastomycosis and can be a useful tool for timely diagnosis.

  • blastomyces antigen detection for monitoring progression of Blastomycosis in a pregnant adolescent
    Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2007
    Co-Authors: Megan Tarr, Michelle Durkin, Joseph L Wheat, John F Marcinak, Kanokporn Mongkolrattanothai, Jennifer L Burns, Mahmoud Ismail
    Abstract:

    Although disseminated Blastomycosis is a rare complication in pregnancy, delay in diagnosis and treatment can be fatal. We investigate the use of the Blastomyces urine antigen in diagnosis following disease progression in the intrapartum, postpartum, and neonatal periods. We describe a case of disseminated Blastomycosis in a pregnant adolescent and review the pertinent literature regarding treatment and monitoring Blastomycosis in pregnancy and the neonatal periods. This is the first reported case in which the Blastomyces urine antigen is utilized as a method of following disease activity during pregnancy confirming absence of clinically evident disease in a neonate. Urine antigen detection for Blastomycosis can be useful for following progression of disease in patients with disseminated Blastomycosis in both the intrapartum and postpartum periods.

  • diagnosis of pulmonary histoplasmosis and Blastomycosis by detection of antigen in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid using an improved second generation enzyme linked immunoassay
    Respiratory Medicine, 2007
    Co-Authors: Chadi A Hage, Michelle Durkin, Thomas E Davis, Joseph L Wheat, Lindsey Egan, Michelle Parker, Deanna D Fuller, Ann M Lemonte, Patricia Connelly, Deborah Bluehnidy
    Abstract:

    Antigen detection is a useful adjunct for the diagnosis of histoplasmosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate antigen detection in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid using an improved second-generation Histoplasma antigen assay. Antigen was detected in 16 of 19 (84%) cases of histoplasmosis and 5 of 6 (83.3%) Blastomycosis cases using the second-generation assay vs. 13 of 19 (68%) and 4 of 6 (66.7%), respectively, in the original assay. Ten-fold concentration permitted detection of antigen in an additional case of histoplasmosis and another with Blastomycosis, for an overall sensitivity of 23 of 25 (92.0%). Specificity was 98.2% in both assays in controls with other pulmonary infections. These findings support the diagnostic utility of the second-generation assay in patients with pulmonary histoplasmosis and Blastomycosis.

Michelle Durkin - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • evaluation of an enzyme immunoassay for antibodies to a recombinant blastomyces adhesin 1 repeat antigen as an aid in the diagnosis of Blastomycosis in dogs
    Javma-journal of The American Veterinary Medical Association, 2015
    Co-Authors: Alyssa C Mourning, Michelle Durkin, Emily J. Kirsch, Edward E Patterson, Janelle S Renschler, Linda A Wolf, Jasmin Paris, L. J. Wheat
    Abstract:

    Objective—To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for antibodies to a recombinant Blastomyces adhesin-1 repeat antigen (rBAD-1) to aid in the diagnosis of Blastomycosis in dogs and compare the findings with results from other tests used for this purpose. Design—Prospective analytic study. Sample—Serum and urine from 70 dogs with and without Blastomycosis. Procedures—Serum and urine samples were collected from dogs with Blastomycosis (n = 21), histoplasmosis (8), or nonfungal pulmonary disease (21) and from healthy control dogs living in a Blastomycosis-endemic area (20). Serum was tested for antibodies against Blastomyces dermatitidis with the rBAD-1 antibody EIA and an A-antigen antibody agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) assay. Serum and urine were tested for B dermatitidis antigen with a quantitative EIA. Results—Sensitivity of the quantitative antigen EIA was 100% in serum and urine samples from dogs with Blastomycosis, with specificity of 95% in urine samples from dogs...

  • development of a highly sensitive and specific Blastomycosis antibody enzyme immunoassay using blastomyces dermatitidis surface protein bad 1
    Clinical and Vaccine Immunology, 2014
    Co-Authors: Sarah M Richer, Bruce S. Klein, Melinda Smedema, Michelle Durkin, Tristan T Brandhorst, Chadi A Hage, Patricia Connolly, Diane S Leland, Thomas E Davis, Joseph L Wheat
    Abstract:

    Serologic tests for antibodies to Blastomyces dermatitidis are not thought to be useful for the diagnosis of Blastomycosis, in part due to the low sensitivity of immunodiffusion and complement fixation. Earlier studies have shown that the enzyme immunoassay improves the sensitivity of antibody detection for the diagnosis of Blastomycosis. Microplates coated with the B. dermatitidis surface protein BAD-1 were used for testing sera from patients with proven Blastomycosis or histoplasmosis and controls. Semiquantification was accomplished by using standards containing human anti-B. dermatitidis antibodies. The antibodies were detected in 87.8% of the patients with Blastomycosis by the enzyme immunoassay compared to 15.0% by immunodiffusion. The specificities were 99.2% for patients with nonfungal infections and healthy subjects and 94.0% for patients with histoplasmosis. The results were highly reproducible on repeat testing. When combined with antigen testing, antibody testing improved the sensitivity from 87.8% to 97.6%. Enzyme immunoassay detection of antibodies against BAD-1 is highly specific, has greatly improved sensitivity over immunodiffusion, and may identify cases with negative results by antigen testing. This assay has the potential to aid in the diagnosis of Blastomycosis.

  • detection of blastomyces dermatitidis antigen in patients with newly diagnosed Blastomycosis
    Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease, 2011
    Co-Authors: Ryan J Bariola, Michelle Durkin, Chadi A Hage, Joseph L Wheat, Eric S Bensadoun, Paul O Gubbins, Robert W Bradsher
    Abstract:

    Blastomycosis is a serious and potentially fatal infection, and diagnosis can be difficult at times. We evaluated the diagnostic utility of a commercially available assay for detection of Blastomyces dermatitidis antigen, recently modified to permit quantitation, in subjects with newly diagnosed Blastomycosis. Twenty-three of 27 (85.1%) subjects had detectable B. dermatitidis antigenuria. In 2 of these 23, positive results were obtained after concentration of the urine specimen. Nine of 11 (81.8%) subjects had detectable B. dermatitidis antigen in serum, including 3 subjects with negative results before treatment of serum with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and positive results after EDTA treatment. B. dermatitidis antigen was not detected in specimens from 50 control subjects but was detected in 15 patients with histoplasmosis. B. dermatitidis antigen was detected in most of the patients with Blastomycosis and can be a useful tool for timely diagnosis.

  • blastomyces antigen detection for monitoring progression of Blastomycosis in a pregnant adolescent
    Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2007
    Co-Authors: Megan Tarr, Michelle Durkin, Joseph L Wheat, John F Marcinak, Kanokporn Mongkolrattanothai, Jennifer L Burns, Mahmoud Ismail
    Abstract:

    Although disseminated Blastomycosis is a rare complication in pregnancy, delay in diagnosis and treatment can be fatal. We investigate the use of the Blastomyces urine antigen in diagnosis following disease progression in the intrapartum, postpartum, and neonatal periods. We describe a case of disseminated Blastomycosis in a pregnant adolescent and review the pertinent literature regarding treatment and monitoring Blastomycosis in pregnancy and the neonatal periods. This is the first reported case in which the Blastomyces urine antigen is utilized as a method of following disease activity during pregnancy confirming absence of clinically evident disease in a neonate. Urine antigen detection for Blastomycosis can be useful for following progression of disease in patients with disseminated Blastomycosis in both the intrapartum and postpartum periods.

  • diagnosis of pulmonary histoplasmosis and Blastomycosis by detection of antigen in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid using an improved second generation enzyme linked immunoassay
    Respiratory Medicine, 2007
    Co-Authors: Chadi A Hage, Michelle Durkin, Thomas E Davis, Joseph L Wheat, Lindsey Egan, Michelle Parker, Deanna D Fuller, Ann M Lemonte, Patricia Connelly, Deborah Bluehnidy
    Abstract:

    Antigen detection is a useful adjunct for the diagnosis of histoplasmosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate antigen detection in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid using an improved second-generation Histoplasma antigen assay. Antigen was detected in 16 of 19 (84%) cases of histoplasmosis and 5 of 6 (83.3%) Blastomycosis cases using the second-generation assay vs. 13 of 19 (68%) and 4 of 6 (66.7%), respectively, in the original assay. Ten-fold concentration permitted detection of antigen in an additional case of histoplasmosis and another with Blastomycosis, for an overall sensitivity of 23 of 25 (92.0%). Specificity was 98.2% in both assays in controls with other pulmonary infections. These findings support the diagnostic utility of the second-generation assay in patients with pulmonary histoplasmosis and Blastomycosis.

G M Scalarone - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Research Article Blastomyces dermatitidis Yeast Lysate Antigen Combinations: Antibody Detection in Dogs with Blastomycosis
    2016
    Co-Authors: Alex R Boyd, Jamie L Vandyke, G M Scalarone
    Abstract:

    which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The systemic fungal infection, Blastomycosis, which infects both humans and animals has presented a diagnostic challenge for clinicians for many years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity of Blastomyces dermatitidis yeast lysate antigens with respect to antibody detection in dogs with Blastomycosis. Lysate antigens were prepared from B. dermatitidis isolates T-58 and T-66 (dogs, Tennessee) andWI-R andWI-J (dogs,Wisconsin). Based on results obtained from a preliminary comparative study, five combinations of these isolates and one individual isolate were tested against 92 serum specimens from dogs with culture-proven or histologically-confirmed Blastomycosis, using the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Mean absorbance values obtained from the sera ranged from 0.905 with the individual T-58 antigen to 1.760 using an antigen combination (T-58 + T-66 + WI-R). All of the 6 antigenic preparations were able to detect antibody in the serum specimens, but the antigen combinations detected antibody to a higher degree than the individual antigen. This study provides evidence that combinations of the yeast lysate reagents seem to be more efficacious for antibody detection in dog sera, but our laboratory is continuing to evaluate antigen lysate combinations for detection of antibodies in Blastomycosis. 1

  • blastomyces dermatitidis yeast lysate antigen combinations antibody detection in dogs with Blastomycosis
    Veterinary Medicine International, 2013
    Co-Authors: Alex R Boyd, Jamie L Vandyke, G M Scalarone
    Abstract:

    The systemic fungal infection, Blastomycosis, which infects both humans and animals has presented a diagnostic challenge for clinicians for many years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity of Blastomyces dermatitidis yeast lysate antigens with respect to antibody detection in dogs with Blastomycosis. Lysate antigens were prepared from B. dermatitidis isolates T-58 and T-66 (dogs, Tennessee) and WI-R and WI-J (dogs, Wisconsin). Based on results obtained from a preliminary comparative study, five combinations of these isolates and one individual isolate were tested against 92 serum specimens from dogs with culture-proven or histologically-confirmed Blastomycosis, using the indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Mean absorbance values obtained from the sera ranged from 0.905 with the individual T-58 antigen to 1.760 using an antigen combination (T-58 + T-66 + WI-R). All of the 6 antigenic preparations were able to detect antibody in the serum specimens, but the antigen combinations detected antibody to a higher degree than the individual antigen. This study provides evidence that combinations of the yeast lysate reagents seem to be more efficacious for antibody detection in dog sera, but our laboratory is continuing to evaluate antigen lysate combinations for detection of antibodies in Blastomycosis.

  • detection of antibodies in serum specimens from dogs with Blastomycosis with lysate antigens prepared from four blastomyces dermatitidis dog isolates individual antigens vs antigen combinations
    Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 2013
    Co-Authors: Jamie L Vandyke, Alex R Boyd, Jesse Sorensen, Tylor Hine, Christina Rayner, Angel Zamora, G M Scalarone
    Abstract:

    Blastomycosis, the systemic fungal infection of humans and animals, has presented a diagnostic challenge to clinicians and laboratory personnel for many years. Our laboratory has been concentrating on attempting to develop antigenic reagents from the yeast phase of various isolates of Blastomyces dermatitidis and to evaluate these lysate antigens with regard to antibody detection in Blastomycosis. The aim of this current study was to evaluate yeast phase antigens prepared from four dog isolates of B. dermatitidis and to evaluate their efficacy, when used individually or in combination, for antibody detection in sera from dogs with Blastomycosis. Mean absorbance values using the ELISA to assay 24 serum specimens (Trial 1) ranged from 0.588 with an individual lysate antigen to 0.992 when three reagents were combined. Eight of the lysates exhibited mean absorbance values ranging from 0.992 to 0.915 with 7 out of 8 being lysate antigen combinations. Mean absorbance values with the other 6 lysates ranged from 0.899 to 0.588. In Trial 2, the 6 most sensitive reagents from Trial 1 were assayed against 10 highly reactive dog sera. The results of Trial 2 showed that 5 antigen combinations detected antibody to a greater degree than the individual lysate antigen. Combinations of northern and southern antigens were able to detect antibody in serum specimens from either of these geographical regions. Comparative studies are continuing to further evaluate various lysate antigen combinations for antibody detection in Blastomycosis.

  • detection of antibodies and delayed hypersensitivity with rotofor preparative ief fractions of blastomyces dermatitidis yeast phase lysate antigen
    Medical Mycology, 1995
    Co-Authors: J L Bono, Alfred M. Legendre, G M Scalarone
    Abstract:

    Blastomyces dermatitidis (dog isolate T-58) yeast phase lysate antigen was concentrated and separated by Rotofor® preparative isoelectric focusing cell (Bio-Rad). The pH values of the fractions were determined and equilibrated to pH 7·2 and then analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using horseradish peroxidase enzyme system against serum specimens from dogs with Blastomycosis, histoplasmosis, aspergillosis, and coccidioidomycosis. The results showed a peak absorbance at pH 3·89–4·31 (fractions 4 and 5) with the Blastomycosis serum specimens. This was a single sharp peak while the rest of the fractions were lower. In contrast the sera from dogs with histoplasmosis showed a peak absorbance at pH 5·54–5·97 (fractions 9 and 10), while the other mycoses showed patterns that did not resemble the Blastomycosis or histoplasmosis specimens. Serum specimens from dogs with Blastomycosis being treated with itraconazole were also assayed (pre-treatment and 1, 2, 3, and 12 months post-treatment sera). The char...