PROTECTIVE ANTI-GLUCAN ANTIBODIES WITH PREFERENCE FOR BETA-1,3-GLUCANS

摘要

Anti-&bgr;-1,3-glucan antibodies have been found to be protective against systemic fungal infection with Candida albicans. The present invention provides monoclonal antibodies that bind to &bgr;-1,3-glucan, hybridoma cell lines producing the antibodies, compositions comprising the antibodies and methods of using such antibodies for treatment of microbial infections, particularly against Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatis infections. The antibodies of the present invention are not specific for (&bgr;-1,6-glucan.