Comparison of the allergenic potency of spores and mycelium of Cladosporium

Abstract

The allergenic potency of spore and mycelium extracts of Cladosporium was estimated by RAST, RAST inhibition and PCA tests. Spores contained a concentration of allergens higher than mycelia. Results of PCA tests suggested that spores contained specific allergens. However, in a comparative study of extracts from different species of Cladosporium animal and human models gave different estimates of the allergenic potency of the different species. In spite of these variations it was shown that extracts from spores of Cladosporium contained the highest amount of Cladosporium allergens.