Characterization of immunologically important antigens and allergens of Aspergillus fumigatus.
Using a variety of immunochemical methods, including quantitative immuno-electrophoretic techniques, combined with gel filtration and iso-electric focusing, and production of monospecific antisera for identification and affinity purification, 4 major components of Aspergillus fumigatus have now been partially characterized. Numbering of these was derived from a reference allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) self-crossed radio-immuno-electrophoresis pattern of reactivity. Two major intracellular/cytoplasmic, concanavalin A (Con A)-binding antigens, Ag 7 and Ag 13, of molecular weights 150-200 and 70 kilodaltons (kD), respectively, were confirmed to be of importance for both ABPA and aspergilloma in specific sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. A rapidly released component, Ag 5, of molecular weight 35 kD, proved both antigenic and allergenic, with aspergilloma patients having especially high-titre IgG antibodies. The major allergenic component Ag 3, of molecular weight 24 kD by gel filtration and 18 kD by SDS-PAGE was, like Ag 5, relatively heat-labile and non-Con-A-binding. Interestingly, T cell clones have been identified which respond primarily to an 18-kD fraction.
Longbottom
J L
JL
Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Brompton Hospital, London, UK.
Harvey
C
C
Taylor
M L
ML
Austwick
P K
PK
Fitzharris
P
P
Walker
C A
CA
D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000276:immunology*; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000276:immunology*; D001229:Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary / Q000276:immunology*; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007123:Immunoelectrophoresis, Two-Dimensional; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007073:Immunoglobulin E