Abstract
In a study of sera from patients with proven or suspected blastomycosis, positive immunodiffusion tests were obtained in all active cases when fresh sera were tested with a cell sap (CS) antigen. False negatives occurred on occasion when an ethanol precipitate (EPF) antigen was used alone. No false positives were found. The CS antigen from the (+) mating type had in common two lines of identity with the (CS) antigen of the (−) type. In addition, other lines were present when the patient was infected with the same mating type as was used for the preparation of the antigen. No differences in the electrophoretic patterns of the enzymes leucine amino peptidase or phosphatase were noted when preparations from the two mating types were compared. However, a distinct pattern was noted when the α esterases of the (+) and (−) mating types were examined. Specific α esterase antibodies were present in patients' sera.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abernathy, R. S. & D. C. Heiner. 1961. Precipitation reactions in agar in North American Blastomycosis. J. Lab. Clin. Med. 57: 604–611.
Ball, O. G., F. L. Lummus et al. 1960. An immunologic survey for systemic fungus infection in general hospital patients of central Mississippi. Am. J. Hyg. 72: 231–243.
Balows, A., K. W. Deuschle et al. 1966. Skin tests in blastomycosis. Arch. Environ. Health 13: 86–90.
Beneke, E. S., R. W. Wilson et al. 1969. Extracellular enzymes of Blastomyces dermatitidis. Mycopathologia 39: 325–328.
Buechner, H. A., J. H. Seabury et al. 1973. The current status of serologic, immunologic and skin tests in the diagnosis of pulmonary mycoses. Chest 63: 259–270.
Busey, J. F. & P. F. Hinton. 1967. Precipitins in blastomycosis. Am. Rev. Resp. Dis. 95: 112–113.
Cox, R. A. & H. W. Larsh. 1974. Isolation of skin test-active preparations from yeast phase cells of Blastomyces dermatitidis. Infection and Immunity 10: 42–47.
Cox, R. A. & H. W. Larsh. 1974. Yeast- and mycelial-phase antigens of Blastomyces dermatitidis: comparison using disc gel electrophoresis. Infection and Immunity 10: 48–53.
Gordon, M. A. 1970. Practical serology of the systemic mycoses. Int. J. Dermatol. 9: 209–214.
Kaplan, W. 1970. The fluorescent antibody technique in the diagnosis of mycotic diseases. Proc. Int. Symp. on Mycoses. PAHO Sci. Pub. No. 205, pp. 86–95.
Kaufman, L., D. W. McLaughlin et al. 1973. Specific immunodiffusion test for Blastomycosis. Appl. Microbiol. 26: 244–246.
Klapman, M. H., N. P. Superfon et al. 1970. North American Blastomycosis. Arch. Dermatol. 101: 653–658.
McDonough, E. S. & A. L. Lewis. 1968. The Ascigerous stage of Blastomyces dermatitidis. Mycologia 60: 76–83.
McDonough, E. S., W. J. Namara et al. 1973. Geographic distribution of ‘+’ and ‘−’ isolates of Blastomyces (Ajellomyces) dermatitidis in North America. Am. J. Epidemiol. 98: 63–67.
Nealson, K. H. & E. D. Garber. 1967. An electrophoresis survey of esterases, phosphatases, and leucine amino peptidases in mycelial extracts of species of Aspergillus. Mycologia 59: 330–336.
Restrepo-Moreno, A. 1970. Serological comparison of the two morphological phases of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Infection and Immunity 2: 268–273.
Restrepo-Moreno A. & J. D. Schneidau. 1967. Nature of the skin-reactive principle in culture filtrates prepared from Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. J. Bacteriol. 93: 1741–1748.
Rippon, J. W. 1974. Medical Mycology: The Pathogenic Fungi and the Pathogenic Actinomycetes. W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia, pp. 552–553.
Rippon, J. W. & E. D. Garber. 1969. Dermatophyte infection as a function of mating type and associated enzymes. J. Invest. Dermatol. 53: 445–448.
Rippon, J. W., D. N. Anderson & E. D. Garber. 1972. Blastomycosis: specificity of antigens reflecting the mating types of Ajellomyces dermatitidis. Bact. Proc. Mm 18.
Rippon, J. W. 1971. Differences between + and − strains of keratinophilic fungi. Rec. Adv. Microbiol. pp. 473–475.
Sarosi, G. A., K. J. Hammerman et al. 1974. Clinical features of acute pulmonary blastomycosis.
Taschdjian, C. L., P. J. Kosnin et al. 1969. Post mortem studies on systemic candidiasis. Sabouraudia 7: 110–117.
Witorsch, P. & J. P. Utz, 1968. North American Blastomycosis: a study of 40 patients. Medicine 47: 169–200.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rippon, J.W., Anderson, D.N., Jacobsohn, S. et al. Blastomycos1s: Specificity of antigens reflecting the mating types of Ajellomyces dermatitidis. Mycopathologia 60, 65–72 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00490374
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00490374