Detection of Fungal Spores Using a Generic Surface Plasmon Resonance Immunoassay

This paper describes a biosensor-based method for detection of fungal spores using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR). The approach involves the use of a mouse monoclonal antibody (Pst mAb8) and a SPR sensor for label-free detection of urediniospores from the model organism Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici (Pst). In the subtractive inhibition assay, urediniospores and Pst mAb8 were mixed, urediniospore-bound Pst mAb8 removed by centrifugation and the remaining Pst mAb8 quantified using the SPR sensor. Assay conditions were optimised and a detection limit of 3.1 x 105 urediniospores/ml was achieved. Spiked Pst samples were further examined in a background of a related spore and it was found that Pst quantification was possible in this mixture. This study represent the first use of SPR technology for fungal spore detection as well as the first report of a successful biosensor-based detection strategy for Pst.