Cell wall composition of two strains of Blastomyces dermatitidis exhibiting differences in virulence for mice.
Cell walls isolated from two strains of Blastomyces dermatitidis were examined. Whereas strain Ga-1 was practically avirulent for mice, strain KL-1 produced death by 21 days in 50% of the mice inoculated. Analyses of the trypsin-treated cell walls of the two strains revealed a higher chitin and protein content in strain KL-1, whereas a higher polysaccharide content was observed in the cell walls of strain Ga-1. Extraction of the walls with 1 n NaOH revealed a threefold difference in the amount of alkali-soluble cell wall material present. The alkali-soluble material could be further fractionated into a water-soluble and a water-insoluble fraction. Previous reports have indicated that the water-insoluble fraction of B. dermatitidis consists of an alpha-linked glucan; however, we report that in addition a phospholipid moiety is covalently bound to the polysaccharide. Furthermore, on the basis of organic phosphorus content, considerably more phospholipid is associated with the alpha-linked glucan of the more virulent KL-1 strain. These results suggest that this cell wall constituent might be one of the factors related to the virulence of this fungus.
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001758:Blastomyces / Q000032:analysis* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000032:analysis*; D002686:Chitin / Q000032:analysis; D002854:Chromatography, Paper; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D005944:Glucosamine / Q000032:analysis; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D006595:Hexosamines / Q000032:analysis; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008055:Lipids / Q000302:isolation & purification; D051379:Mice; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000032:analysis; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D014357:Trypsin; D014774:Virulence
D000596:Amino Acids; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D006595:Hexosamines; D008055:Lipids; D011134:Polysaccharides; D002686:Chitin; D010758:Phosphorus; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D014357:Trypsin; D005947:Glucose; D005944:Glucosamine