Serologic aspects on yeast classification

Presence of O-glycosidically linked oligosaccharides in the cell wall mannan of Candida krusei purified with Benanomicin A

Cell wall mannan of the pathogenic yeast Candida krusei was prepared using the antibiotic Benanomicin A, which has a lectin-like function. The chemical structure of this molecule was found to be similar to that of mannan prepared from the same yeast by the conventional method using Fehling reagent. Only a few degradation products were detected when the mannan prepared using Fehling reagent was subjected to alkali treatment (β-elimination), but multiple α-1,2-linked oligosaccharides were detected when the mannan purified with Benanomicin A was treated with alkali. These results indicate that most of the O-linked sugar chains in mannan were lost under conventional conditions when exposed to the strongly alkaline Fehling reagent. In contrast, the O-glycosidic bond in mannan was not cleaved and the O-linked sugar chains were maintained and almost intact following treatment with the mild novel preparation method using Benanomicin A. Therefore, we argue that the new mannan preparation method using Benanomicin A is superior to conventional methods. In addition, our study suggests that some yeast mannans, whose overall structure has already been reported, may contain more O-linked sugar chains than previously recognized.

Eighty Years of Mycopathologia: A Retrospective Analysis of Progress Made in Understanding Human and Animal Fungal Pathogens

Mycopathologia was founded in 1938 to 'diffuse the understanding of fungal diseases in man and animals among mycologists.' This was an important mission considering that pathogenic fungi for humans and animals represent a tiny minority of the estimated 1.5-5 million fungal inhabitants on Earth. These pathogens have diverged from the usual saprotrophic lifestyles of most fungi to colonize and infect humans and animals. Medical and veterinary mycology is the subdiscipline of microbiology that dwells into the mysteries of parasitic, fungal lifestyles. Among the oldest continuing scientific publications on the subject, Mycopathologia had its share of 'classic papers' since the first issue was published in 1938. An analysis of the eight decades of notable contributions reveals many facets of host-pathogen interactions among 183 volumes comprising about 6885 articles. We have analyzed the impact and relevance of this body of work using a combination of citation tools (Google Scholar and Scopus) since no single citation metric gives an inclusive perspective. Among the highly cited Mycopathologia publications, those on experimental mycology accounted for the major part of the articles (36%), followed by diagnostic mycology (16%), ecology and epidemiology (15%), clinical mycology (14%), taxonomy and classification (10%), and veterinary mycology (9%). The first classic publication, collecting nearly 200 citations, appeared in 1957, while two articles published in 2010 received nearly 150 citations each, which is notable for a journal covering a highly specialized field of study. An empirical analysis of the publication trends suggests continuing interests in novel diagnostics, fungal pathogenesis, review of clinical diseases especially with relevance to the laboratory scientists, taxonomy and classification of fungal pathogens, fungal infections and carriage in pets and wildlife, and changing ecology and epidemiology of fungal diseases around the globe. We anticipate that emerging and re-emerging fungal pathogens will continue to cause significant health burden in the coming decades. It remains vital that scientists and physicians continue to collaborate by learning each other's language for the study of fungal diseases, and Mycopathologia will strive to be their partner in this increasingly important endeavor to its 100th anniversary in 2038 and beyond.

N-Oxy lipid-based click chemistry for orthogonal coupling of mannan onto nanoliposomes prepared by microfluidic mixing: Synthesis of lipids, characterisation of mannan-coated nanoliposomes and in vitro stimulation of dendritic cells

New synthetic aminooxy lipid was designed and synthesized as a building block for the formulation of functionalised nanoliposomes (presenting onto the outer surface of aminooxy groups) by microfluidic mixing. Orthogonal binding of cellular mannan (Candida glabrata (CCY 26-20-1) onto the outer surface of functionalised nanoliposomes was modified by orthogonal binding of reducing termini of mannans to oxime lipids via a click chemistry reaction based on aminooxy coupling (oxime ligation). The aminooxy lipid was proved as a suitable active component for preparation of functionalised nanoliposomes by the microfluidic mixing method performed with the instrument NanoAssemblr™. This "on-chip technology" can be easily scaled-up. The structure of mannan-liposomes was visualized by transmission and scanning electron microscopy, including immunogold staining of recombinant mannan receptor bound onto mannosylated-liposomes. The observed structures are in a good correlation with data obtained by DLS, NTA, and TPRS methods. In vitro experiments on human and mouse dendritic cells demonstrate selective internalisation of fluorochrome-labelled mannan-liposomes and their ability to stimulate DC comparable to lipopolysaccharide. We describe a potentially new drug delivery platform for mannan receptor-targeted antimicrobial drugs as well as for immunotherapeutics. Furthermore, the platform based on mannans bound orthogonally onto the surface of nanoliposomes represents a self-adjuvanted carrier for construction of liposome-based recombinant vaccines for both systemic and mucosal routes of administration.

Towards an integrated phylogenetic classification of the Tremellomycetes

Families and genera assigned to Tremellomycetes have been mainly circumscribed by morphology and for the yeasts also by biochemical and physiological characteristics. This phenotype-based classification is largely in conflict with molecular phylogenetic analyses. Here a phylogenetic classification framework for the Tremellomycetes is proposed based on the results of phylogenetic analyses from a seven-genes dataset covering the majority of tremellomycetous yeasts and closely related filamentous taxa. Circumscriptions of the taxonomic units at the order, family and genus levels recognised were quantitatively assessed using the phylogenetic rank boundary optimisation (PRBO) and modified general mixed Yule coalescent (GMYC) tests. In addition, a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis on an expanded LSU rRNA (D1/D2 domains) gene sequence dataset covering as many as available teleomorphic and filamentous taxa within Tremellomycetes was performed to investigate the relationships between yeasts and filamentous taxa and to examine the stability of undersampled clades. Based on the results inferred from molecular data and morphological and physiochemical features, we propose an updated classification for the Tremellomycetes. We accept five orders, 17 families and 54 genera, including seven new families and 18 new genera. In addition, seven families and 17 genera are emended and one new species name and 185 new combinations are proposed. We propose to use the term pro tempore or pro tem. in abbreviation to indicate the species names that are temporarily maintained.

Significant differences in the cell-wall mannans from three Candida glabrata strains correlate with antifungal drug sensitivity

Candida glabrata is often the second or third most common cause of candidiasis after Candida albicans. C. glabrata infections are difficult to treat, often resistant to many azole antifungal agents and are associated with a high mortality rate in compromised patients. We determined the antigenic structure of the cell-wall mannoproteins from three C. glabrata strains, NBRC 0005, NBRC 0622 and NBRC 103857. (1)H NMR and methylation analyses of the acetolysis products of these mannoproteins showed a significant difference in the amount of the β-1,2-linked mannose residue and side-chain structure. The C. glabrata NBRC 103857 strain contained up to the triose side chains and the nonreducing terminal of the triose was predominantly the β-1,2-linked mannose residue. By contrast, the mannans of the two former strains possessed up to the tetraose side chains and the amount of the β-1,2-linked mannose residue was very low. Larger oligosaccharides than tetraose in the acetolysis products of these mannans were identified as incomplete cleavage fragments by analyzing methylation, (1)H NMR spectra and the α1-2,3 mannosidase degradation reaction. Resistance to the antifungal drugs itraconazole and micafungin was significantly different in these strains. Interestingly, the NBRC 103857 strain, which involved a large amount of the β-1,2-linked mannose residues, exhibited significant sensitivity to these antifungal drugs.

Use of 65kDa mannoprotein gene primers in PCR methods for the identification of five medically important Candida species

We have developed PCR and Multiplex PCR assays for the detection of medically important Candida spp. using different species and genus-specific PCR primers selected within the MP65 gene, a recently cloned gene encoding a mannoprotein adhesin. The genus-specific PCR primers were able to amplify Candida species DNA (100% positivity) whereas DNA from all other isolates tested, belonging to other fungal genera, was not amplified. The species-specific PCR primers allowed differentiation of each of five Candida species by the amplicon length produced. No amplicons were detected using species- or genus-specific primers in several bacterial or human DNA templates. The methods described in this study are reproducible, simple and specific. The total time required for each PCR method was less than 4 h from the extraction to the visualized amplicons after PCR. In conclusion, we developed PCR methods to differentiate the five most medically important Candida species using primers directed to the MP65 gene.

Beta-1,2 oligomannose adhesin epitopes are widely distributed over the different families of Candida albicans cell wall mannoproteins and are associated through both N- and O-glycosylation processes

Beta-1,2-linked mannosides (beta-Mans) are believed to contribute to Candida albicans virulence. The presence of beta-Mans has been chemically established for two molecules (phosphopeptidomannan [PPM] and phospholipomannan) that are noncovalently linked to the cell wall, where they correspond to specific epitopes. However, a large number of cell wall mannoproteins (CWMPs) also express beta-Man epitopes, although their nature and mode of beta-mannosylation are unknown. We therefore used Western blotting to map beta-Man epitopes for the different families of mannoproteins gradually released from the cell wall according to their mode of anchorage (soluble, released by dithiothreitol, beta-1,3 glucan linked, and beta-1,6 glucan linked). Reduction of beta-Man epitope expression occurred after chemical and enzymatic deglycosylation of the different cell wall fractions, as well as in a secreted form of Hwp1, a representative of the CWMPs linked by glycosylphosphatidylinositol remnants. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay inhibition tests were performed to assess the presence of beta-Man epitopes in released oligomannosides. A comparison of the results obtained with CWMPs to the results obtained with PPM and the use of mutants with mutations affecting O and N glycosylation demonstrated that both O glycosylation and N glycosylation participate in the association of beta-Mans with the protein moieties of CWMPs. This process, which can alter the function of cell wall molecules and their recognition by the host, is therefore more important and more complex than originally thought, since it differs from the model established previously with PPM.

Structural analysis of cell wall mannan of Candida sojae, a new yeast species isolated from defatted soybean flakes

We investigated the structural and immunochemical characteristics of cell wall mannan obtained from Candida sojae JCM 1644, which is a new yeast species isolated from defatted soybean flakes. The results of a slide-agglutination test and of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using anti-factor sera to the pathogenic Candida species indicated that the cells and the C. sojae mannan were cross-reactive to the specific anti-factor sera against Candida albicans serotype A (FAb 6) and Candida guilliermondii (FAb 9). Two-dimensional homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn analysis indicated that the mannan consisted of various linked oligomannosyl side chains containing alpha-1,2-, alpha-1,3-, alpha-1,6- and beta-1,2-linked mannose residues. However, although the determinants of antigenic factors 6 and 9 could be not found in this mannan, branched side chains, Manbeta1-2Manalpha1-3[Manalpha1-6]Manalpha1-(2Manalpha1-)n2Man and a linear alpha-1,6-linked polymannosyl backbone, which are cross-reacted by FAbs 6 and 9, respectively, were identified. The mannan was subjected to acetolysis in order to determine the polymerization length of the alpha-1,2-linked oligomannosyl residue in the side chains. The result of (1)H-nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of the released oligosaccharides showed that the remarkable regularity in the length of alpha-1,2-linked oligomannosyl side chains, which were previously found in mannans of other Candida species, is not observed in this mannan.

Medical history and progress in infectious diseases, especially systemic fungal infections in Japan

This paper reports on medical history from the end of the Edo period to the present and development of studies on infectious diseases, especially medical mycology including systemic fungal diseases. With the inflow of Dutch studies at the end of the Edo period and the adoption of European, mainly German, medicine in the Meiji Restoration, Japanese medical studies gradually developed. However, evolution in the medical field as well as other scientific fields was prevented during the 2nd World War. After the War, there was marked progress in scientific fields and medical research made strong advances. In the past 20 years, basic fungal studies and clinical fungal diseases, especially clinical analysis, clinical diagnosis and treatment of systemic fungal infections have progressed. The level in this field is now equivalent to or higher than that in European countries. Further development is necessary, however, to relieve patients suffering from systemic fungal infections. Members of the Japanese Association of Medical Mycology must be leaders among international medical mycologists.

Anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae mannan antibodies (ASCA) of Crohn's patients crossreact with mannan from other yeast strains, and murine ASCA IgM can be experimentally induced with Candida albicans

BACKGROUND

Anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) present in a subgroup of Crohn's disease (CD) patients indicate loss of tolerance against commensal antigens. ASCA can be induced in Candida albicans-infected rabbits, suggesting their potential crossreactive nature. The present study aimed to determine crossreactivities of ASCA with cell wall mannans from other yeasts, including the opportunistic pathogen C. albicans, and to define the requirements for (crossreactive) ASCA in experimental mice.

METHODS

ASCA were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ASCA were neutralized by preincubating sera with purified mannans. Binding of ASCA was visualized by Western blot. Mice were immunized with live yeasts and experimental colitis was induced with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS).

RESULTS

Seroreactivity of ASCA-positive CD patients against S. cerevisiae mannan significantly correlates with that against mannans from 5 other yeast species, including C. albicans. This correlation is due to crossreactive IgG, demonstrated by the loss of reactivity after preincubation of sera with mannans from the other yeasts. Immunization of mice with S. cerevisiae or C. albicans fails to induce (crossreactive) ASCA IgM or IgG antibodies. Subsequent chronic experimental colitis concomitant with feeding live yeasts promotes ASCA IgM but not IgG generation, while titers remain modest compared to those in ASCA-positive CD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Correlations of ASCA reactivities against mannans from different yeasts are due to crossreactive IgGs. The inability of mice to readily generate ASCA is in line with the current opinion that genetic predisposition is a prerequisite for the development of this and other unusual immune reactivities in CD.

Induction of salivary antibodies to inhibitCandida albicansadherence to human epithelial cells by tonsillar immunization in rabbits

To examine the possibility of a vaccine for Candida albicans infection in the oral cavity, we induced salivary antibodies by immunization of killed-C. albicans ATCC 18804 on the palatine tonsils of rabbits. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay reaction of salivary antibodies was high against C. albicans serotype A. The saliva antibodies greatly inhibited C. albicans adherence to cloned epithelial cells from human gingiva. Tonsillar immunizations of C. albicans ATCC 18804 induce salivary antibodies that prevent C. albicans adherence to epithelial cells, and thus should prove useful in the prevention of oral candidiasis caused by C. albicans serotype A.

Use of 65 kDa mannoprotein gene primers in Real Time PCR identification of Candida albicans in biological samples

A method for the detection and quantification of Candida albicans in biological samples (blood, urine and serum) was developed with the use of Real-Time PCR utilizing CaMP65-specific primers. Two different systems were used for the detection in the LightCycler platform (Roche): the SYBR green fluorescent dye with melting peak analysis and the 5'nuclease fluorescent-probe detection. The amplification was highly specific for C. albicans, providing no cross-reaction on genomic DNA extracted from other Candida species or Aspergillus. The sensitivity in simulated biological samples was especially high (1 genome) when applied to sera and urine, and in blood samples the limit of detection was higher by ten-fold. Finally, the real-time PCR was employed in order to detect and quantify C. albicans in the sera from patients with invasive candidiasis.

Diverse biomodulatory effects of glucomannan from Candida utilis

Using four experimental model systems, it was demonstrated that glucomannan (GM) isolated from the cell wall of the industrial yeast Candida utilis revealed a broad range of protective activities. This effect depended on the nature and mode of action of the counteracting genotoxic compound as well as on the experimental model system used. In the Saccharomyces bioprotectivity assay, GM increased resistance towards ofloxacin-induced toxicity in the wild type and recombination repair-deficient yeast strains significantly enhancing survival of the cells. In the chromosomal aberration assay, GM exerted anticlastogenic effect against maleic hydrazide induced clastogenicity in Vicia faba L. In the DNA-topology assay, GM protected plasmid DNA from the breaks induced by Fe(2+) ions, but enhanced damage induced by bleomycin and hydrogen peroxide. In the cell-revitalization assay, it enhanced cytotoxic/cytostatic effect of teniposide applied to mouse leukemia cells. Thus, depending on the experimental model, GM acted as antimutagen, anticlastogen, DNA breaks inhibitor or inducer, and as cytotoxic/cytostatic effect enhancer. Several possible mechanisms of bioprotective action underlying the observed activities are suggested including iron chelation and free radical scavenging. The results imply that GM is a polysaccharide with marked biological activities and suggest its potential biomedical application, especially in combination with other bioactive compounds.

Structure of Fungal Cell Wall Polysaccharides

Candida albicans mannan consists of the alpha-1,6-linked backbone moiety and the alpha-1,2- and alpha-1,3-linked side chains. It also contains alpha-1,6-branched mannose units, beta-1,2-linked mannose units, and phosphate groups. The cell wall mannans of the genus Candida possess three types of beta-1,2 linked mannose units. One is linked via the phosphodiester linkage, the second type is connected to an alpha-1,2-linked mannose unit, and the third type is attached to an alpha-1,3-linked mannose unit. These beta-1,2-linked mannose units showed a strong antigenicity and produce the characteristic NMR chemical shifts. Using two-dimensional NMR techniques, we will practically determine the structure of these polysaccharides in a nondestructive manner.

[The significance of Candida serology based on cell wall antigens]

The article reviews the state of the art in detecting anti-Candida antibodies directed against cell wall mannans. Experience in this field was collected over more than four decades. The mannan antigens of Candida spp. are well characterized serologically and biochemically. Candida mannans are immunogenically potent antigens to which the host's immune system reacts regularly. The human host is not immunologically naïve towards Candida albicans. Clinical and laboratory evaluation of methodologies detecting anti-Candida antibodies must essentially regard the pathogenetic particularities of candidaemia and candidosis with their opportunistic characters.

Construction and use of PCR primers from a 65 kDa mannoprotein gene for identification of C. albicans

A method for detection of Candida albicans in biological samples (blood, serum, urine) was developed by the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of a DNA fragment of a gene coding for a 65 kDa mannoprotein of C. albicans (CaMP65). The PCR amplifies a 220 bp fragments whose specificity for C. albicans was demonstrated by Southern blot with a non-radioactive probe, leading to the differentiation from all other yeast species or human and bacterial DNA. The sensitivity of this assay was 5-10 C. albicans cells per milliliter of biological sample.

Biological activities of naturally occurring antibodies reactive with Candida albicans mannan

Sera from normal adult humans may contain high levels of antibody reactive with Candida albicans mannan. This study examined selected biological activities of such antibodies, focusing on sera that were collected from 34 donors and analyzed individually. The results showed that antimannan titers were normally distributed. Reactivity as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with serotype A mannan generally paralleled reactivity with serotype B. Analysis of the kinetics for activation of the complement system and deposition of complement component 3 (C3) onto serotype A and serotype B cells showed a decrease in the lag time that occurred before the onset of rapid accumulation of C3 that correlated with increasing antimannan titers. In contrast, there was a decrease in the overall rate of accumulation of C3 on serotype A cells that was strongly correlated with increasing antibody titers; serotype B cells showed no such decrease. An evaluation of the contribution of mannan antibody to opsonophagocytic killing showed that mannan antibody in individual sera and antimannan immunoglobulin G (IgG) affinity purified from human plasma contributed to killing by neutrophils in a dose-dependent fashion in the absence of a functional complement system. However, affinity-purified antibody in very high concentrations was inhibitory to both complement-dependent and complement-independent opsonophagocytosis, and this finding suggests a prozone-like effect. In contrast, if the complement system was functional, antimannan IgG was not needed for opsonophagocytic killing. These results suggest that naturally occurring mannan antibodies and the complement system are functionally redundant for opsonophagocytic killing by neutrophils.

Existence of novel beta-1,2 linkage-containing side chain in the mannan of Candida lusitaniae, antigenically related to Candida albicans serotype A

The antigenicity of Candida lusitaniae cells was found to be the same as that of Candida albicans serotype A cells, i.e. both cell wall mannans react with factors 1, 4, 5, and 6 sera of Candida Check. However, the structure of the mannan of C. lusitaniae was significantly different from that of C. albicans serotype A, and we found novel beta-1,2 linkages among the side-chain oligosaccharides, Manbeta1-->2Manbeta1--> 2Manalpha1-->2Manalpha1-->2Man (LM5), and Manbeta1-->2Man-beta1-->2Manbeta1-->2Manalpha1-->2Manalpha1-->2Man (LM6). The assignment of these oligosaccharides suggests that the mannoheptaose containing three beta-1,2 linkages obtained from the mannan of C. albicans in a preceding study consisted of isomers. The molar ratio of the side chains of C. lusitaniae mannan was determined from the complete assignment of its H-1 and H-2 signals and these signal dimensions. More than 80% of the oligomannosyl side chains contained beta-1,2-linked mannose units; no alpha-1,3 linkages or alpha-1,6-linked branching points were found in the side chains. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent inhibition assay using oligosaccharides indicated that LM5 behaves as factor 6, which is the serotype A-specific epitope of C. albicans. Unexpectedly, however, LM6 did not act as factor 6.

A new mannoheptaose containing alpha and beta-(1-->2) linkages isolated from the mannan of Torulaspora delbrueckii: ELISA inhibition studies

Torulaspora delbrueckii starin IFO 0955 was examined with respect to its structural and serological properties of the cell wall mannan (Td-0955-M). Td-0955-M revealed significant reactivities with sera from a commercially available factor serum kit (Candida Check) in ELISA. Td-0955-M was investigated for its chemical structure by acetolysis under conventional and mild conditions. NMR and GC techniques were used as analytical techniques. The mannooligosaccharide fractions eluted from a Bio-Gel P-2 column were found to consist of Man(alpha1-2)Man, M2, Man(alpha1-2)Man(alpha1-2)Man and Man(beta1-2)Man(alpha1-2)Man, M3, Man(alpha1-2)Man(beta1-2)Man(beta1-2)Man(alpha1-2)Man, M5, and a new mannoheptaose, which possesses the structure, Man(alpha1-2)Man(beta1-2)Man(beta1-2)Man(beta1-2)Man(beta1-2)Man(alpha1-2)Man, M7. The results of the inhibition ELISA showed that the M7 oligosaccharide significantly inhibited the reactivities in the Td-0955-M-factor serum systems.

Peptides that mimic Candida albicans-derived beta-1,2-linked mannosides

Beta-1,2-linked mannosides from Candida albicans phosphopeptidomannan (PPM) bind to macrophages through a receptor independent from the macrophage alpha-linked mannose receptor and stimulate these cells to secrete immune mediators. Anti-beta-1,2-linked mannoside but not anti-alpha-linked mannoside antibodies produced after immunization with neoglycoproteins protect animals from disseminated candidiasis. In this study, peptides that mimic beta-1,2-linked mannosides were isolated using phage display methodology. A phage library expressing random peptides was panned with an anti-beta-1,2-linked mannoside monoclonal antibody (mAb). After three rounds of biopanning, the isolated phages were able to inhibit recognition of C. albicans by the mAb. Sixty percent of the phages had an identical DNA insert corresponding to the peptide sequence FHENWPS that was recognized specifically by the mAb. Injection of KLH-coupled peptide into mice generated high titers of polyclonal antibodies against C. albicans yeast cell walls. The anti-FHENWPS antibodies bound to C. albicans PPM and were inhibited by soluble beta-1,2-mannotetraose. Together, these data provide evidence for mimotopic activity of the peptide selected by biopanning with the anti-beta-1,2-oligomannoside mAb.

Serological relationships of Cryptococcus spp.: distribution of antigenic factors in Cryptococcus and intraspecies diversity

The antigenic formulas of 34 species in the genus Cryptococcus were determined by using type strains and eight factor sera prepared from adsorption experiments with Cryptococcus neoformans serotypes. These antigenic factors were shared by 19 species. The strains used could be divided into eight serological groups. The patterns of groups 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 were the same as the patterns of C. neoformans serotypes A, D, A-D, B, and C, respectively. The species belonging to group 4 reacted to factor sera 1, 2, and 3. Group 7 contained one species that reacted only to factor serum 1. The 15 species in group 8 did not react to any of the factor sera used. Compared to the reported molecular phylogenetic tree, the serological and phylogenetic data were correlated in the Filobasidium lineage. All the members of the albidus clade in the Filobasidium lineage had antigens 1, 2, and 3, and all the strains in the magnus clade belonged to serogroup 8. Moreover, intraspecies diversity was examined using strains of C. curvatus, C. humicolus, and C. laurentii. Serological heterogeneity was observed in the species C. humicolus and C. laurentii, as well as in phylogenetic relationships previously published. Using serological features, similarities and differences between Cryptococcus species were demonstrated. Our study contributes to a better description of the genus Cryptococcus and related species phenotypically and phylogenetically.

New enzyme immunoassays for sensitive detection of circulating Candida albicans mannan and antimannan antibodies: useful combined test for diagnosis of systemic candidiasis

Two standardized enzyme immunoassays for the serological diagnosis of candidiasis were developed. The first one detects antimannan antibodies, while the second one detects mannan with a sensitivity of 0.1 ng/ml. These tests were applied to 162 serum samples retrospectively selected from 43 patients with mycologically and clinically proven candidiasis caused by Candida albicans. Forty-three serum samples were positive for mannan, and 63 had significant antibody levels. Strikingly, only five serum samples were simultaneously positive by both tests. When the results were analyzed per patient, 36 (84%) presented at least one serum positive by one test. For 30 of them, positivity by one test was always associated with negative results by the other test for any of the tested sera. For six patients whose sera were positive for either an antigen or an antibody response, a balance between positivity by each test was evidenced by kinetic analysis of sera drawn during the time course of the infection. Controls consisted of 98 serum samples from healthy individuals, 93 serum samples from patients hospitalized in intensive care units, and 39 serum samples from patients with deep mycoses. The sensitivities and specificities were 40 and 98% and 53 and 94% for mannanemia or antibody detection, respectively. These values reached 80 and 93%, respectively, when the results of both tests were combined. These observations, which clearly demonstrate a disparity between circulation of a given mannan catabolite and antimannan antibody response, suggest that use of both enzyme immunoassays may be useful for the routine diagnosis of candidiasis.

Contrasting roles of mannan-specific monoclonal immunoglobulin M antibodies in the activation of classical and alternative pathways by Candida albicans

Polyclonal antimannan immunoglobulin G (IgG) activates the classical complement pathway and accelerates initiation of the alternative pathway by Canidida albicans. This dual role was assessed for two antimannan IgM monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). MAb B6.1 is specific for an epitope on the acid-labile portion of C. albicans phosphomannan; MAb B6 is specific for an epitope on the acid-stable region. Both MAbs were potent activators of the classical pathway but poor facilitators of alternative pathway initiation.

IgE, IgA, and IgG responses to common yeasts in atopic patients

This study was undertaken to analyze the differences in exposure and sensitization to five common environmental yeasts. The responses of IgG, IgA, and IgE to Candida albicans, C. utilis, Cryptococcus albidus, Rhodotorula rubra, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae and purified S. cerevisiae enolase were analyzed by immunoblotting (IgE-IB), and the cross-reactivity of their IgE-binding components by IgE-IB inhibition. Twenty atopic subjects, with asthma, allergic rhinitis, or atopic dermatitis were included. In skin prick tests (SPT), 12 of the patients showed simultaneous reactivity to at least two of the five yeasts, four reacted to one of the yeasts, and four had no responses. Antigens run in SDS-PAGE and transferred to nitrocellulose were probed with enzyme-labeled IgA-, IgG-, and IgE-specific antibodies. The IgE immunoblotting revealed most IgE-binding bands in C. albicans (11 bands) followed by C. utilis (eight bands), S. cerevisiae (five bands), R. rubra (five bands), and Cr. albidus (four bands). Six of the IgE-binding bands of C. albicans and C. utilis shared molecular weight, and only two bands shared molecular weight with other yeasts. These were the 46-kDa band, shared by all five yeasts, and a 13-kDa band shared by four yeasts. Prominent IgE binding was seen to a 46-kDa band of C. albicans (seven patients), C. utilis (five patients), and S. cerevisiae (one patient) and to corresponding weak bands of Cr. albidus and R. rubra (one patient). The possible cross-reactivity of the 46-kDa band was analyzed by IgE-IB inhibition and densitometry, revealing clear C. albicans inhibition of C. utilis (80%) and enolase (98%) (autoinhibition 100%). The strongest IgG responses were seen against S. cerevisiae and C. albicans. The responses were mainly against mannans of C. albicans and S. cerevisiae, suggesting that most of the exposure is to these yeasts. Yeasts with different types of exposure, from saprophytic growth on human mucous membranes to exposure by air and food, were shown to cross-react at the allergenic level. Atopic patients primarily sensitized by C. albicans and S. cerevisiae may develop allergic symptoms by exposure to other environmental yeasts due to cross-reacting IgE antibodies.

Assay for detecting IgE and IgG antibodies against Candida albicans cell-wall mannan

In the present study, we assayed mannan-specific IgE and IgG antibodies in samples of serum isolated from blood collected from adult patients with bronchial asthma, using a liquid-phase method with a polysaccharide, mannan (Mn), purified from Candida albicans (C. alb), and investigated the relationships of allergenicity among a crude extract of C. alb, purified Mn, and acid protease (AP), The correlations between the titers of anti-Mn A and anti-Mn B IgE and IgG were very strong, and the levels of inhibition of anti-Mn A IgE and IgG reactions by Mn A and Mn B were almost identical. Although no common allergenicity was observed between Mn A and AP because there was no correlation between the titers of anti-Mn A and anti-AP IgE, and no inhibition of the anti-Mn A IgE reaction by AP, both antigens were found to exist in crude C. alb. The level of inhibition of anti-crude C. alb IgG reaction by Mn A or Mn B was about 60%. Approximately 70% inhibition of the anti-Mn A IgE reaction was observed for eight different fungal allergen extracts, but no inhibition was observed for 11 of the other fungal allergen extracts tested. The above results indicate that common antigenicity was observed between Mn A and Mn B in the human IgE and IgG antibody production system, and the cross-allergenicity observed among some fungi was considered to be the result of the common antigenicity of Mn isoforms.

Construction and use of PCR primers from a 70 kDa heat shock protein gene for identification of Candida albicans

Methods for detection of Candida albicans in culture or biological samples were developed by the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with oligonucleotide primers from C. albicans 70 kDa heat shock protein gene (Cahsp70). The PCR amplifies a 335-base pair fragment which is then hybridized with a non-radioactive probe, leading to the specific identification of C. albicans and its differentiation from all other human pathogenic Candida and/or yeast species. Candida albicans could be rapidly detected in human urine and blood, with a sensitivity of 10 and 50 fungal cells per sample, respectively.

NMR assignment of the galactomannan of Candida lipolytica

The chemical structure of the cell wall galactomannan of Candida lipolytica was analyzed using two-dimensional NMR techniques without chemical fragmentation. The H-1-H-2-correlated cross-peaks of the galactomannan indicated that it consists of an alpha-1,6-linked mannan backbone moiety with side chains. A sequential NMR assignment of the side chains through nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) cross-peaks indicated that the triose side chain contains an alpha-1,2-linked galactopyranose unit at the non-reducing terminal. The structure was significantly different from the galactomannan of Trichophyton. The molar ratio of the side chains calculated from the H-1 signal dimensions indicated that ca. 45% of the backbone alpha-1,6-linked mannose units are not substituted with side chains and are responsible for the reactivity of the galactomannan with factor 9 serum.

Demonstration of the presence of alpha-1,6-branched side chains in the mannan of Candida stellatoidea

A mild acetolysis of the mannans of Candida stellatoidea was performed after acetylation to yielded an alpha-1,6-branched mannohexaose, the presence of which had been predicted from the appearance of a specific H1-H2-correlated cross-peak in two-dimensional homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn spectroscopy. In this study, we found that the de-O-acetylation of a 4-O-acetyl group at the branching point, the 3,6-di-O-substituted mannose unit, of an acetylated oligosaccharide by sodium methoxide is significantly slower than that of other acetyl groups. We could separate the 4-O-acetylated branching oligosaccharide from linear isomer using high-performance liquid chromatography. Before and after the de-O-acetylation of the purified branching oligosaccharide, their 1H-NMR signals were sequentially assigned by means of the nuclear Overhauser effect. In the sequential NMR assignment study, we showed that the alpha-1,6-linked mannose unit is attached to the 3-O-substituted unit based on the presence of NOE cross-peak between H1 of the branching mannose unit and H6 of the 3-O-substituted mannose unit. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent inhibition assay of the reactivity of factor 4 serum to C. stellatoidea mannan by several oligosaccharides indicated that the alpha-1,6-branched oligosaccharide and the beta-1,2 linkage-containing oligosaccharides showed inhibitory activity. This result indicates that factor 4 serum, as well as factor 5 and 6 sera, contains antibodies against beta-1,2-linked mannose units which have been reported to participate in pathogenicity via cytokine production and/or adherence. From the assignment results of H1-H2-correlated cross-peaks of oligosaccharides and mannans, the molar ratio of the mannan side chains was proposed. In this study, we demonstrated that the epitope structure of the C. stellatoidea type I strains was the same as that of the C. albicans NIH B-792 (serotype B) strain.

Structure of a cell wall mannan from the pathogenic yeast, Candida catenulata: assignment of 1H nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shifts of the inner alpha-1,6-linked mannose residues substituted by a side chain

We performed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of the cell wall mannan purified from the pathogenic yeast, Candida catenulata, using antisera to factors of the genus Candida. The results suggest that mannan possesses a linear backbone consisting of alpha-1, 6-linked mannose residues and side chains possessing nonreducing terminal alpha-1,2- and alpha-1,3-linked mannose residues. The chemical structure of the mannan was analyzed by two-dimensional homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn and two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser enhancement and exchange spectroscopy. The sequential assignments of the cross-peaks caused by J-coupling and the nuclear Overhauser effect from these terminal mannose residues demonstrate that the H1 signal of an inner alpha-1,6-linked mannose residue substituted by an alpha-oligomannosyl side chain or a single mannose through the C-2 position in an alpha-anomer configuration undergoes a significant downfield shift (delta delta = 0.16 or 0.19 ppm, respectively) compared with that of unsubstituted residues. We therefore propose the exact overall structure of the antigenic mannan obtained from C. catenulata. The assignment data in the present study are useful for the determination of the exact overall structure of various yeast mannans using the two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance analysis without the need for harsh procedures.

Identification of the antigenic determinants of factors 8, 9, and 34 of genus Candida

We investigated the antigenic determinants of factors 8, 9, and 34 of the genus Candida among pathogenic yeasts by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using mannans of Saccharomyces cerevisiae wild type and mutant types, mnn 1-mnn 4 and mnn 2. Results of ELISA including antisera against the antigenic factors of genus Candida (Candida Check, latron; FAbs) indicated that these three types of mannan distinctly react with FAbs 34, 8 and 9, respectively. To identify the recognition sites of these FAbs, we compared the ability of various oligosaccharides to inhibit the binding of the mannans to FAbs. The results indicated that FAb 34 preferentially recognizes linear side chains containing a non-reducing terminal alpha-1,3-linked mannose residue, Man(alpha)1 --> 3Man(alpha)1 --> (2Man(alpha)1 --> )n(2Man) (n > or = 0), and that one of the recognition sites of FAb 9 is linear alpha-1,6-linked oligomannosyl series, Man(alpha)1 --> (6Man(alpha)1 --> )n(6Man) (n > or = 2). On the other hand, the recognition site of FAb 8 apparently consisted of two alpha-1,2-linked oligomannosyl side chains and an alpha-1,6-linked mannose residue that originated from the mannan backbone, Man(alpha)1 --> 2Man(alpha)1 --> 2(Man(alpha)1 -->2Man(alpha)1 --> 6)Man.

Characterization of alpha-1,6-mannosyltransferase responsible for the synthesis of branched side chains in Candida albicans mannan

A particulate insoluble fraction from Candida albicans NIH B-792 (serotype B) strain cells was obtained as the residue after extracting a 105000 x g pellet of cell homogenate with 1% Triton X-100. Incubation of this fraction with a mannopentaose, Man alpha 1-->3Man alpha 1-->2Man alpha 1-->Man alpha 1-->2Man, in the presence of GDP-mannose and Mn2+ at pH 6.0 gave a branched mannohexaose, [sequence: see text] 6 the structure of which was identified by means of sequential off assignment. However, the enzyme fraction obtained from Candida parapsilosis gave Man alpha 1-->2Man alpha 1-->3Man alpha 1-->2Man alpha 1-->2 Man alpha 1-->2Man under the same conditions. These results demonstrate the finding that the structural difference in the mannans of these two species is due to the presence of alpha-1.6-linked branching mannose units in the C. albicans mannan [Shibata, N., Ikuta, K., Imai, T., Satoh, Y., Satoh, R., Suzuki, A., Kojima, C., Kobayashi, H., Hisamichi, K. & Suzuki, S. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 1113-1122]. The substrate-specificity study of the enzyme indicated that the structural requirement of the alpha-1,6-mannosyltransferase is Man alpha 1-->3Man alpha 1-->. The alpha-1,6-mannosyltransferase also transferred the alpha-1,6-linked branching mannose unit to the mannan of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The transformation of the mannan was detected by the appearance of antigenic factor 4 using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and two-dimensional homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn spectroscopy.

Dynamic expression of cell-surface antigens probed with Candida albicans-specific monoclonal antibodies

IgG hybridomas were produced with preferentially reacted with cell-surface antigens of either yeast cells or hyphae of Candida albicans. Four mAbs were used in an immunostaining procedure to follow the expression dynamics of these antigens in media supplemented with glucose or galactose. Yeast cell growth was analysed during the lag phase, the early- and late-exponential phases and the stationary phase, and mycelium formation was analysed between 0.5 and 24 h induction at 37 degrees C. It appears that yeast cell-surface antigens 5C11 and 2E11 are expressed throughout all phases of yeast cell growth as well as on young hyphae after up to 1 h induction. Longer hyphae only faintly react with these two mAbs as they switch to hyphal cell-surface antigens 2G8 and 4E1 after 3 h induction. The reactivity to mAbs 2G8 and 4E1 was induced after a 3 h temperature shift and was confined to the terminal third of growing mycelia. Growth and hyphae induction in galactose prolonged the reactivity of young hyphae with the two anti-yeast-cell mAbs, whereas the expression of surface antigens 2G8 and 2E11 appeared delayed and desynchronized on hyphae. Whereas a similar reactivity was found with ten ATCC strains of C. albicans, four clinical isolates had a unique pattern of reactivity. Immunoblot analyses of DTT extracts of cell-surface constituents indicated that the antigens were proteinaceous in nature and showed that yeast-cell antigens 5C11 and 2E11 are detected in four bands between 68 and 104 kDa, whereas mycelial antigens 4E1 and 2G8 are detected in 117 kDa and 104 kDa bands found in mycelial but not in yeast-cell extracts. Present data support the concept of a dynamic balance in the expression of phase-specific antigens in C. albicans.

Antigenicity of cell wall mannans of Candida albicans NIH B-792 (serotype B) strain cells cultured at high temperature in yeast extract-containing sabouraud liquid medium

Cultivation of Candida albicans NIH B-792 (serotype B) at high temperature (37 degrees C) for 48 h in yeast extract-containing Sabouraud liquid medium (YSLM) provided the following findings in comparison with the findings obtained after incubation at 27 degrees C. Growth of the blastoconidia of this strain was decreased, with a dry weight of 9%, and the cells were deficient in cytokinesis. The cells did not undergo agglutination with serum factor 5 from a commercially available serum factor kit (Candida Check). Mannan (B-37-M) obtained from the cells cultured at 37 degrees C had partially lost its reactivity against serum factor 4 and lost most of its reactivity against serum factor 5 in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in contrast to that (B-27-M) at 27 degrees C. Both cells and mannan prepared by cultivation first at 37 degrees C and then at 27 degrees C entirely recovered their reactivities with serum factors 4 and 5. 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance analysis also revealed that B-37-M had lost a beta-1,2-linked mannopyranose unit and retained a phosphate group. Similar changes were observed in the three other serotype B strains used in the study. The beta-1,2-linked mannooligosaccharides longer than mannotetraose were not included among the products released from B-37-M by mild acid treatment. The results of the inhibition ELISA with a series of beta-1,2-linked mannooligosaccharides from biose to octaose (M2 to M8, respectively) showed that the reactivity against serum factor 4 was inhibited most strongly by the oligosaccharides M4 to M8 and that the reactivity against serum factor 5 was inhibited completely by relatively longer oligosaccharides, M5 to M8, indicating their participation as the antigenic factor 5 epitopes.

Existence of novel branched side chains containing beta-1,2 and alpha-1,6 linkages corresponding to antigenic factor 9 in the mannan of Candida guilliermondii

Isolation of beta-linkage-containing side chain oligosaccharides from the mannan of Candida guilliermondii IFO 10279 strain has been conducted by acetolysis under mild conditions. A structural study of these oligosaccharides by one- and two-dimensional NMR and methylation analyses indicated the presence of extended oligosaccharide side chains with two consecutive beta-1,2-linked mannose units at the nonreducing terminal of alpha-linked oligosaccharides. The linkage sequence present in this mannan, Man beta 1-->2Man alpha 1-->3Man alpha-->, has also been found in the mannan of Saccharomyces kluyveri but not in the mannan of Candida species. Furthermore, these oligosaccharides are branched at position 6 of the 3-O-substituted mannose units as follows. (Carbohydrate sequence in text) Structure 1 and (Carbohydrate sequence in text) Structure 2 The H-1 signals of the mannose units substituted by a 3,6-di-O-substituted unit showed a significant upfield shift (delta delta = 0.04-0.08 ppm) due to a steric effect. The inhibition of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay between the mannan of C. guilliermondii and factor 9 serum with oligosaccharides obtained from several mannans indicated that only the oligosaccharides with the above structure were active, suggesting that these correspond to the epitope of antigenic factor 9.

Mycoserological study of the treatment of paediatric cystic fibrosis patients with Saccharomyces boulardii (Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hansen CBS 5926)

Saccharomyces boulardii (SB) (Saccharomces cerevisiae Hansen CBS 5926) is a yeast widely used in humans for the prevention and treatment of infectious enterocolitis. SB is said also to antagonize Candida albicans when given orally to living organisms. This double-blind trial was performed to determine the effect and tolerance of SB as an oral therapeutic in patients suffering from cystic fibrosis receiving long-term treatment with cephalosporins or cotrimoxazole, by examining C. albicans counts in the intestine. Extensive mycoserological examinations for drug safety evaluation were also performed. To be selected for the study patients had to present C. albicans in their intestinal flora. None of the patients enrolled exhibited clinical symptoms of candidosis. A daily dose of 750 mg (250 mg t.i.d.) of lyophilized SB given for 21 days did not affect the number of C. albicans commensals in those patients. However, the mycoserological data confirmed the safety of SB treatment with respect to a hypothetically possible SB fungaemia and a possible falsification of Candida serology.

Existence of branched side chains in the cell wall mannan of pathogenic yeast, Candida albicans. Structure-antigenicity relationship between the cell wall mannans of Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis

Isolation of side chain oligosaccharides from mannans of Candida albicans NIH B-792 (serotype B) and Candida parapsilosis IFO 1396 strains has been conducted by acetolysis under mild conditions. Structural study of these oligosaccharides by 1H and 13C NMR and methylation analyses indicated the presence of novel branched side chains with the following structures in C. albicans mannan. [sequence: see text] It was observed that the H-1 proton chemical shifts of the second and the third mannose units from the reducing terminus in each oligosaccharide are shifted upfield by substitution with an alpha-linked mannose unit at position 6 of the 3-O-substituted mannose unit. An agglutination inhibition assay between factor 4 serum and cells of Candida stellatoidea IFO 1397 lacking the beta-1,2-linked mannose unit, with oligosaccharides obtained from these mannans, indicated that only the branched oligosaccharides were active. This finding suggests that the branched oligosaccharides correspond to the epitope of antigenic factor 4. The presence of the branched structure in other mannans was detected by the characteristic H-1-H-2-correlated cross-peak of the alpha-1,2-linked mannose unit connected with the 3,6-di-O-substituted one by two-dimensional homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn spectroscopy.

Structural study of a cell-wall mannan of Saccharomyces kluyveri IFO 1685 strain. Presence of a branched side chain and beta-1,2-linkage

Acetolysis of the cell-wall mannan of Saccharomyces kluyveri under mild conditions, gave fragments with 1-6 mannose residues. The structures of mannopentaose and mannohexaose were determined to be [Formula; see text] respectively, by two-dimensional homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn spectroscopy and a sequential NMR assignment method that combines 1H-13C correlated spectroscopy, relayed coherence transfer spectroscopy, 1H-detected heteronuclear multiple-bond connectivity and methylation analysis. The H1 proton chemical shift of a neighboring alpha-1,2-linked mannose unit of the 3-O-substituted structure was shifted upfield by the addition of a mannose unit to the adjacent 3-O-substituted unit by an alpha-1,6 linkage. The characteristic H1--H2-correlated cross-peak of the alpha-1,3-linked mannose unit substituted by a beta-1,2 linkage, beta 1-->2Man alpha 1-->3, in the mannan of S. kluyveri, as also found by two-dimensional homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn spectroscopy in the mannan of Candida guilliermondii, a pathogenic yeast in man.

Characterization of epitopes recognized by Candida factor 1 and 9 antisera by use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mnn mutants

The use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mnn mutants has facilitated the study of the epitopes recognized by antisera against several antigenic factors of the genus Candida (Candida Check; Iatron Laboratories, Tokyo, Japan). We have taken advantage of the very well characterized structure of the mannans of the different mnn mutants to compare their reactivities with the factor antisera used in the identification of different species of the genus Candida. The results of this study provide evidence that one of the antigenic determinants recognized by factor 1 antisera is the O-linked mannose chains of the cell wall mannoproteins, while that recognized by factor 9 antiserum is the alpha 1-6-linked mannose backbone of the outer chain of the N-linked oligosaccharide.