Detection of β-galactofuranosidase production byPenicilliumandAspergillusspecies using 4-nitrophenyl β-D-galactofuranoside

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Abstract
An assay was developed for detecting .beta.-galactofuranosidase produced by Penicillium and Aspergillus spp. The substrate for the assay, 4-nitrophenyl .beta.-D-galactofuranoside, was synthesized from penta-O-acetyl-.beta.-D-galactofuranose and 4-nitrophenol by a tin chloride catalyzed reaction followed by O-deacetylation. Aspergillus spp. produced only small quantities of .beta.-galactofuranosidase during 30 d at 25.degree.C. Only the biverticillate Penicillium spp. (P. funiculosum, P. islandicum, P. rubrum and P. tardum) produced substantial .beta.-galactofuranosidase after 1-4 weeks at 25.degree.C. No extracellular antigens of these four Penicillium spp. could be detected in culture filtrates by the sandwich ELISA technique when antibodies to the extracellular .beta.-galactofuranoside-containing polysaccharide antigen of P. digitatum was used. Antigens to all other Penicillium and Aspergillus spp. were easily detected in their culture filtrates.