Beschreibung:
<jats:p>The <jats:italic>Candida albicans</jats:italic> cell-surface protein Hwp1 functions in adhesion to the host and in biofilm formation. A peptide from the Gln-Pro-rich adhesive domain of Hwp1 was used to raise monoclonal antibody (MAb) 2-E8. MAb 2-E8 specificity for Hwp1 was demonstrated using a <jats:italic>hwp1/hwp1 C. albicans</jats:italic> isolate and strains that expressed at least one <jats:italic>HWP1</jats:italic> allele. Immunofluorescence and atomic force microscopy experiments using MAb 2-E8 confirmed <jats:italic>C. albicans</jats:italic> germ-tube-specific detection of the Hwp1 protein. MAb 2-E8 also immunolabeled the tips of some <jats:italic>Candida dubliniensis</jats:italic> germ tubes grown under conditions that maximized <jats:italic>HWP1</jats:italic> expression. The phylogeny of <jats:italic>HWP1</jats:italic> and closely related genes suggested that the Gln-Pro-rich adhesive domain was unique to <jats:italic>C. albicans</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>C. dubliniensis</jats:italic> focusing the utility of MAb 2-E8 on these species. This new reagent can be used to address unanswered questions about Hwp1 and its interactions with other proteins in the context of <jats:italic>C. albicans</jats:italic> biology and pathogenesis.</jats:p>