title: A common antigenic epitope expressed on human Pneumocystis carinii.
abstract: Recently antigenic heterogeneity in human Pneumocystis carinii (Pc) isolates was observed in several laboratories. Monoclonal antibodies (MAb) were produced to human Pc (PcH) from a lung autopsy sample from a non-AIDS patient (MAb Group I, n = 10), or from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid from AIDS patients (MAb Group II, n = 8). To detect Pc antigen from specimens, indirect immunofluorescence and immunoblotting techniques were used. The reactivity was evaluated by using one autopsy sample from the non-AIDS patient and 14 BAL samples from AIDS patients. The MAb in group I (C5-9, E9) stained a part of PcH from all isolates. On the other hand, several MAb in group II (L20-5, M34-2, M78-3, M79-5, N23-4) stained all PcH from all isolates. Some MAb (C5-9, E9, M34-2, M78-3) stained cysts as well as trophozoites. Immunoblot studies detected a 92 kDa molecule as a common antigen by all of these MAb. Therefore, we have found a common antigenic epitope on PcH and MAb that recognize this epitope may become useful for diagnosis of infection and for biological characterization studies on the organism.
authors.affiliation: Meiji College of Oriental Medicine, Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Amagai
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roux
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Girard
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000276:immunology*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D011010:Pneumocystis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D000939:Epitopes