title: Determination of plasma (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan: a new diagnostic aid to deep mycosis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Jichi Medical School, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Obayashi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aketagawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawai
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005936:Glucans; D047071:beta-Glucans; C033363:beta-1,3-glucan; D004693:Glucan Endo-1,3-beta-D-Glucosidase