title: Isolation and purification of antigenic components of Cryptococcus.
abstract: The encapsulated fungal pathogens Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii are significant agents of life-threatening infections, particularly in persons with suppressed cell-mediated immunity. This chapter provides detailed methodology for the purification of two of the major antigen fractions of C. neoformans: glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) and mannoprotein (MP). GXM is the primary component of the polysaccharide capsule, which is the major cryptococcal virulence factor. In contrast, MPs have been identified as key antigens that stimulate T-cell responses. Purification of GXM and MP should assist investigators studying the antigenic, biochemical, and virulence properties of Cryptococcus species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Microbiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Wozniak
authors.forename: Stuart M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Levitz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000209:etiology; D003454:Cryptococcus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008351:Mannans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009172:Mycology / Q000379:methods; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000209:etiology; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014774:Virulence / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D008351:Mannans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011134:Polysaccharides; C025363:mannoproteins; C027478:glucuronoxylomannan