Anti- Aspergillus Fumigatus IgY Antibodies And Their Protective Efficacy In Cyclosporine A Treated-BALB/C Mice

Previously, the protective efficacy of antiAspergillus fumigatus IgY antibodies; prepared in egg laying hens, was reported in immunocompetent BALB/c mice. Since A. fumigatus infections are of main concern in immunocompromised patients, the aim of this study was to test the efficacy of the same product in Cyclosporine A treatedBALB/c mice. Heatkilled A. fumigatus was emulsified with both Freund’s complete and incomplete adjuvant and injected into egg-laying hens with a 12 days interval between the former and the latter emulsions. IgY was extracted from pooled egg yolks laid prior to, postprimary and postsecondary immunizations, and were dialyzed and lyophilized. Elevated levels of protein and IgY in the post-immunized preparations was confirmed by the Bradford assay and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE).Earlier specific IgY was detected by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The different extracts obtained were administered to mice treated with Cyclosporine A and challenged with an LD50 of A. fumigatus and survival rates were determined.Results indicated that IgY concentrations were highest in postsecondary immunized extracts and was most effective in protecting Cyclosporine A treatedmice against challenge with A. fumigatus.It appears that IgY antibodies provided some therapeutic and prophylactic effects in Cyclosporine A treated-mice. Probably better protective and therapeutic results would be obtained by manipulating the dose of post-IgY.