Electrophoretic and serological analyses of cytoplasmic antigens from Aspergillus fumigatus during growth of conidia to mature mycelia.

The changes of cytoplasmic components concomitant with conidium to mature mycelium growth of Aspergillus fumigatus strain Ag 507 were analysed by one- and two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE; 2-DE). SDS-PAGE monitored molecular weight differences between components of cytosol preparations obtained from conidia and those through 96 h of mycelial growth. 2-DE analyses indicated that some components characteristic of mature cytosol begin to appear by 7 h. Cytoplasmic preparations absorbed with rabbit immunoglobulins raised to mature cytosol were analysed by 2-DE. Conidia cytosol components were not absorbed to a great degree, unlike those from later stages of mycelial growth, which indicates that cytosol components may be changed and/or synthesized de novo during growth of the fungus. Analysis of the cytosol preparations by fused rocket immunoelectrophoresis showed that some components are synthesized in different amounts at various times during growth: 3, 4, 7, 8, and 18 h of growth, components begin to appear that may be synthesized de novo. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with rabbit antiserum to mature cytosol and cytosol preparations obtained from conidia through 96 h of growth, indicated differences of molecular structures between the cytosol preparations. The anticytosol IgG and IgE titers of sera from patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis were both elevated and fluctuated with each preparation. The specific IgG and IgE titers both appeared to be elevated with cytosol preparations obtained from 4, 5, 7, and 9 h of growth and highest against the 96 h preparation.