Determination of plasma (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan: a new diagnostic aid to deep mycosis.
We present additional evidence that plasma from patients with deep-seated mycoses contains (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan. Digestion of such samples with endo-(1-->3)-beta-D-glucanase completely abolished the ability of the plasma to activate factor-G, a horseshoe crab coagulation enzyme that is extremely sensitive to this polysaccharide. Measurement of plasma (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan is a promising method for the diagnosis of deep-seated mycoses and for monitoring the response of these infections to antifungal therapy.
Obayashi
T
T
Department of Clinical Pathology, Jichi Medical School, Tochigi, Japan.
Yoshida
M
M
Tamura
H
H
Aketagawa
J
J
Tanaka
S
S
Kawai
T
T
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004693:Glucan Endo-1,3-beta-D-Glucosidase; D005936:Glucans / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009181:Mycoses / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D047071:beta-Glucans
D015415:Biomarkers; D005936:Glucans; D047071:beta-Glucans; C033363:beta-1,3-glucan; D004693:Glucan Endo-1,3-beta-D-Glucosidase