This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hook, W. A. Articles by Fife, E. H. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Hook, W. A. Articles by Fife, E. H., Jr. Agricola Articles by Hook, W. A. Articles by Fife, E. H.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1967 March; 15(2): 350-356
Copyright © 1967 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Soluble Antigens for Immunofluorescence Detection of Histoplasma capsulatum Antibodies

Department of Serology, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C.

ABSTRACT

Soluble antigens from Histoplasma capsulatum in the mycelial and yeast phase were purified by gel filtration, fixed onto paper discs, and employed in an indirect immunofluorescence procedure to detect antibody in sera from individuals infected with H. capsulatum. The elution patterns of crude histoplasmin passed through Sephadex G-200 revealed two minor peaks of protein showing immunofluorescence, complement fixing, and precipitating-antigen activity. A large peak containing the pigment and other low molecular weight materials showed no serological activity. A polysaccharide antigen obtained from fragmented, deproteinized yeast-phase cells was reactive in the fluorescent-antibody test but showed no antigen activity in complement fixation or precipitin tests. Although certain sera from culturally proven cases of blastomycosis, coccidioidomycosis, and cryptococcosis reacted with the purified Histoplasma antigens, preliminary evaluation indicated that the immunofluorescence technique may be of value as a screening procedure for the serodiagnosis of histoplasmosis.