The continuous epitopes of Candida albicans proteinase SAP 2 were derived by epitope mapping with sera from patients with oral candidiasis (n=3), necropsy‐proven disseminated candidiasis (n=5), paired sera from patients who had recovered from blood culture‐proven disseminated candidiasis (n=3) and infection due to Candida parapsilosis (n=2) and Candida tropicalis (n=2). In C. albicans infection, IgM identified epitopes in amino acid positions 57–61 (QAVPV), 146–151 (SQGTLY) and 346–351 (PYDKCQ) and IgG at position 386–390 (VKYTS). For C. tropicalis IgM and IgG were positive for the same epitopes whilst IgG also detected epitopes at 78–83 (SNNQKL) and 159–164 (GVSIKN). For C. parapsilosis, IgM was positive for SNNQKL and IgG detected no epitopes. Reactivity of two of the epitopes as peptides KTSKRQAVPVTL and SLAQVKYTSASSI was confirmed in an indirect ELISA. At a cut‐off optical density of 0.4, IgM against either peptide was associated with survival but present in only about half of the sera (n=60) from patients who recovered from disseminated candidiasis whilst IgG levels were disappointing. Human recombinant antibodies from a patient who had recovered from disseminated candidiasis against either of these peptides had no activity in a lethal mouse model of candidal infection.

The microscopic examination of lesions of patients with suspected mycotic infections using slides purchased from foreign countries often showed hyphae. The slides and their wrappings were cultured successfully on Sabouraud dextrose-agar medium. A heavy growth of suspected aspergillus colonies was obtained. These colonies were investigated further by culturing them on both Czapek's solution agar and Malt extract agar. After macroscopic and microscopic examination the fungus was identified as Aspergillus chevalieri from the Aspergillus glaucus group. (7 Clin Pathol 1997;50:699-700) Keywords: Aspergillus glaucus; contamination; microscope slides; mycotic infection Aspergillus species are common airborne contaminants of all surfaces, including skin, mouth, lung, wounds, and so forth. There are about 900 species in the genus Aspergillus. They are among the most common of all environmental fungi. Members of the aspergillus genus are often identified as biodeteriogens. The large number of species comprising the

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