Immunochemical study of Fonsecaea pedrosoi antigens and standardization of serological techniques for chromoblastomycosis

Abstract

imunoquímico de antígenos de Fonsecaea pedrosoi e padronização de técnicas sorológicas para cromoblastomicose causada por este fungo. São Paulo, 2002.

Antigen distribution and antigen‐presenting cells in skin biopsies of human chromoblastomycosis

“…Few studies address the host–parasite relationship in cutaneous chromoblastomycosis. Antibodies have been detected in such patients, 7 and the cell‐mediated response has been investigated in two studies 8,9 . There are few studies evaluating the immunophenotype of the cellular elements related to cell‐mediated immunity in the inflammatory response in chromoblastomycosis skin lesions.…”

“…The polyclonal immune serum used in the immuno histochemical (IHC) reactions was raised in rabbits against a metabolic antigen of F. pedrosoi according to a standard protocol 7 . The metabolic antigen was obtained from culture 884 of F. pedrosoi (Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, São Paulo University Medical School) in Sabouraud‐ dextrose at 25°C for 30 days.…”

“…The culture was filtered through number 1 Whatman paper, and the resulting filtrate was concentrated 10 times and used as an antigen. In a previous study, Vidal 7 standardized routine serologic reactions such as double immunodiffusion, counterimmunoelectrophoresis, immunoglobulin G‐enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, and immunoblotting for the evaluation of serum samples from chromoblastomycosis patients (etiologic agent, F. pedrosoi ). Also, electrophoretic analysis of the antigen(s) (SDS‐PAGE) was performed as well as analysis of sensitivity and specificity of the reactions.…”

“…The host defense mechanisms in chromoblastomycosis have not been extensively investigated. Precipitating antibodies have been detected, in several studies, in patients with this disease 7 , but the role of humoral factors in the host defense mechanisms against dematiaceous fungi remain unclear. The cell‐mediated immune response is also present in chromoblastomycosis 8,9 and has histological expression in the granulomatous response of the host.…”