Production of Trichophyton mentagrophytes antigens and their characterization in mice

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The participation of dermatophytic antigens in the host-parasite balance is still poorly understood. One of the difficulties encountered by researchers is the lack of dominant and specific antigens that can be used in such studies. In order to contribute to a better understanding of this aspect of infection, the present study identifies antigen fractions obtained from exoantigen and cytoplasmic extracts of Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed the presence of 13 proteins in the exoantigen extract, whose molecular weight ranged from 12.5 to 90 kDa. The cytoplasmic extract contained 18 protein fractions ranging from 11 to 110 kDa. Immunoblotting showed the presence of immunodominant antigens against IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies. This affinity was observed in three proteins of the exoantigen extract and in three proteins of the cytoplasmic extract, with respective molecular weights of 33, 39 and 59, and 40, 55 and 82 kDa. These results are promising, especially when considering that these extracts contain antigenically distinct protein fractions which, once determined, may contribute to a better understanding of dermatophytoses, and may thus help in the development of alternative strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of this condition.

Dermatophyte–host relationship of a murine model of experimental invasive dermatophytosis

“…We used the exoantigens produced from the same strain of T. mentagrophytes inoculated in the mice according Venturini et al [21]. On the 6th, 13th and 29th days after inoculation, the mice were injected with the specific antigen (50 mg of protein /ml, previously standardized e data not showed) in the opposite footpad.…”

“…The humoral immune response was evaluated based on the protocol described by Camargo et al [22] using the T. mentagrophytes exoantigens [21].…”

TLR2−/− Mice Display Increased Clearance of Dermatophyte Trichophyton mentagrophytes in the Setting of Hyperglycemia

“…Non-adherent cells were removed by washing the wells three times with RPMI-1640, and the remaining PACs (>95% mononuclear phagocytes as assessed by morphological examination and expression of F4/80 by FACS) were used for experiments. PACs were cultured in RPMI-1640 medium, or RPMI-1640 medium supplemented with 50 μg/ml Tm exoantigen (TmExo), produced as described in Venturini et al (2008). After 24 h, cell-free supernatants were harvested and stored at −80°C for cytokine analysis.…”