Immunocytochemical labeling of chitin in the cell walls of zoopathogenic fungi.
Chitin is a complex polysaccharide composed of repeating units of beta-1,4-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. It is found in many invertebrates, in some algae, in the cyst form of several protozoans and in the cell walls of most fungi. Chitin, however, is not expressed in vertebrate tissues. We used a polyclonal rabbit antiserum against macromolecular chitin to label and stain by immunoperoxidase technique in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues a variety of zoopathogenic fungi. The antiserum bound to the cell walls of the microorganisms, but not to (mammalian) host tissue elements.
Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Mercer University, Macon, GA 31207.
A N
AN
Walker
R E
RE
Garner
M N
MN
Horst
D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry; D002686:Chitin / Q000032:analysis*; D005658:Fungi / Q000737:chemistry*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry
D002686:Chitin