Detection of Resting Spores of Spongospora Subterranea F.SP. Subterranea Using Serological Techniques

Abstract

A polyclonal antiserum has been produced against spore balls of Spongospora subterranea f.sp. subterranea prepared from potato tubers. It was able to detect as little as 0.02 spore balls in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). It detected spore balls of different cultivar origin equally well. It also detected spores from different geographical origins. Western blot analysis revealed that the antiserum detected a number of different proteins, the most distinct of which had a molecular weight of slightly less than 6.5 kDa. In indirect FITC immunofluorescence, discrete bright fluorescent spots were visualised using the specific serum. With the non-specific serum only a very dull background fluorescence was evident.