Immunochemical studies onTrichophyton mentagrophytes

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Antigenic polysaccharide-peptide complexes were extracted from mycelia of Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and purified by gel filtration, DEAE-cellulose and proteolytic digestion. The chemical composition of crude and purified antigens is described. Purified antigens were composed chiefly of carbohydrate material, mainly glucose or mannose, with smaller amounts of galactose, glucosamine and peptides. The antigens were further evaluated by skin test in humans with naturally acquired trichophytosis, especially tinea pedis. Proteolytic digestion caused the N content of the polysaccharide-peptide complexes to fall from 1/7 to 1/8. Such peptide degradation caused a loss of the delayed reaction in skin tests. It did not, however, cause a reduction in the immediate reaction in skin tests or a disappearance of precipitin arcs in agar gels.