title: Role of cell surface molecules of Blastomyces dermatitidis in the pathogenesis and immunobiology of blastomycosis.
abstract: The cell surface of pathogenic microbes is critical in directing their interactions with the host. The discovery of a 120 kd antigen/adhesin WI-1 on the yeast or parasitic form of Blastomyces dermatitidis has elucidated the molecular basis of host/pathogen interactions in blastomycosis. WI-1 has three structural domains: (1) an N-terminal hydrophobic domain that spans the cell membrane, (2) a C-terminal epidermal growth factor-like domain that may bind extracellular matrix, and (3) a central domain of many 24- or 25 amino-acid repeats arrayed in tandem. The repeat is homologous to invasin, a Yersinia adhesin, and binds CD11b/CD18 (CR3) and CD14 receptors on host cells. WI-1 expression is altered on genetically related strains of B dermatitidis differing in virulence and modulates how hypovirulent mutants interact with macrophages. WI-1 also evokes humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in acquired resistance to B dermatitidis that may help clear the fungus in the host. These observations on WI-1 provide new insight into a key pathogenic factor and antigen of the fungus and may ultimately help in designing new ways to diagnose, treat, and prevent blastomycosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, USA.
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D001758:Blastomyces / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D001759:Blastomycosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D005936:Glucans / Q000235:genetics; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000382:microbiology; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D005936:Glucans; D006023:Glycoproteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C045788:alpha-1,3-glucan