Allescheria boydii and Aspergillus fumigatus skin test antigens.

May, Lewis K. (Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia), Ralph A. Knight, and H. William Harris. Allescheria boydii and Aspergillus fumigatus skin test antigens. J. Bacteriol. 91:2155-2157. 1966.-Protein and polysaccharide fractions were extracted from culture filtrates of Allescheria boydii and Aspergillus fumigatus by the methods of Seibert and of Heidelberger, and injected intradermally into guinea pigs previously infected with these fungi. The diameter of erythema and induration was determined at 8, 24, and 48 hr. The protein and polysaccharide antigens yielded specific skin reactions in homologously infected guinea pigs. Erythema appeared at 8 hr with both the protein and polysaccharide antigens. At this time, the polysaccharide skin tests showed erythema and a central blanched wheal. A similar wheal was not observed with the protein. The erythema of the polysaccharide reaction began fading at 24 hr, whereas the protein reaction remained unchanged through 48 hr with both antigens. In guinea pigs, the area of erythema was more constant and thus easier to measure than was induration.