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Immunohistochemical and immunocytochemical detection of SchS34 antigen in Stachybotrys chartarum spores and spore impacted mouse lungs

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the distribution of a 34 kD antigen isolated from S. chartarum sensu lato in spores and in the mouse lung 48 h after intra-tracheal instillation of spores by immuno-histochemistry. This antigen was localized in spore walls, primarily in the outer and inner wall layers and on the external wall surfaces with modest labelling observed in cytoplasm. Immuno-histochemistry revealed that in spore impacted mouse lung, antigen was again observed in spore walls, along the outside surface of the outer wall and in the intercellular space surrounding spores. In lung granulomas the labelled antigen formed a diffusate, some 2–3× the size of the long axis of spores, with highest concentrations nearest to spores. Collectively, these observations indicated that this protein not only displayed a high degree of specificity with respect to its location in spores and wall fragments, but also that it slowly diffuses into surrounding lungs.

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Acknowledgments

We thank C. Leggiadro NRC Institute of Marine Biosciences for assistance and excellent technical support. Jiangping Xu prepared the antibodies. This study was supported by a Natural Sciences and Research Council discovery grant administered to TGR and an NSERC IRC to JDM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, NS, Canada, B3H 3C3

    Thomas G. Rand

  2. Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Chemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1S 5B6

    J. David Miller

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  1. Thomas G. Rand
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  2. J. David Miller
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Correspondence to Thomas G. Rand.

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Rand, T.G., Miller, J.D. Immunohistochemical and immunocytochemical detection of SchS34 antigen in Stachybotrys chartarum spores and spore impacted mouse lungs. Mycopathologia 165, 73–80 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-007-9080-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-007-9080-1

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