title: Immunoproteomics and immunoinformatics analysis of Cryptococcus gattii: novel candidate antigens for diagnosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify immunoreactive proteins of Cryptococcus gattii genotype VGII and their B-cell epitopes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We combined 2D gel electrophoresis, immunoblotting and mass spectrometry to identify immunoreactive proteins from four strains of C. gattii genotype VGII (CG01, CG02, CG03 and R265). Next, we screened the identified proteins to map B-cell epitopes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-eight immunoreactive proteins were identified. The strains and the number of proteins we found were: CG01 (12), CG02 (12), CG03 (18) and R265 (26). In addition, we mapped 374 peptides potentially targeted by B cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both immunoreactive proteins and B-cell epitopes of C. gattii genotype VGII that were potentially targeted by a host humoral response were identified. Considering the evolutionary relevance of the identified proteins, we may speculate that they could be used as the initial targets for recombinant protein and peptide synthesis aimed at the development of immunodiagnostic tools for cryptococcosis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Imunogenética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Piauí, Campus Ministro Petrônio Portella Bloco SG-16, 64049-550, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil. liline-martins@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Liline Maria Soares
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Hélida Monteiro
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: de Andrade
authors.forename: Marilene Henning
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Vainstein
authors.forename: Bodo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wanke
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schrank
authors.forename: Claudia Bemfica
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Balaguez
authors.forename: Patrícia Ribeiro
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.forename: Lucélia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santi
authors.forename: Simone da Fonseca
authors.initials: Sda F
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.forename: Adalberto Socorro
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: José Adail Fonseca
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: de Castro
authors.forename: Rafael Melo Santos de Serpa
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Brandão
authors.forename: Semiramis Jamil Hadad
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: do Monte
mesh_terms: D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D056285:Cryptococcus gattii / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D040901:Proteomics
chemical_list: D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D005656:Fungal Proteins