A peptidorhamnomannan from the mycelium of Pseudallescheria boydii is a potential diagnostic antigen of this emerging human pathogen.
The ascomycete Pseudallescheria boydii is an emerging human pathogen frequently found in soil and polluted water. A peptidopolysaccharide antigen has been isolated from mycelial forms of P. boydii, and characterized using chemical and immunological methods. Monosaccharide composition, methylation analysis, and (1)H- and (13)C-NMR spectra indicated the presence of a rhamnomannan with a structure distinct from those of similar components isolated from other fungi, containing Rhap(1-->3)Rhap epitopes on side chains which may be linked (1-->3) to (1-->6)-linked mannose. The peptidorhamnomannan from P. boydii reacted poorly with an antiserum raised against whole cells of Sporothrix schenckii and strongly with one against P. boydii hyphae. These characteristics and immunological differences suggest that this major rhamnose-containing antigen of P. boydii may be useful for the specific diagnosis of infections attributable to this fungus.
Pinto
Marcia R
MR
Instituto de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CCS, Bloco I, Ilha do Fundão, 21941-970, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil1.
Mulloy
Barbara
B
National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 3QG, UK2.
Haido
Rosa M T
RMT
Instituto Biomédico, Universidade do Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil3.
Travassos
Luiz R
LR
Disciplina de Biologia Celular, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil4.
Barreto Bergter
Eliana
E
Instituto de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CCS, Bloco I, Ilha do Fundão, 21941-970, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil1.
D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002845:Chromatography; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008745:Methylation; D011541:Pseudallescheria / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D011817:Rabbits; D013175:Sporothrix / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology
D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D000939:Epitopes; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007106:Immune Sera; C107788:peptido-rhamnomannan