ASSAY FOR DETECTING IGE AND IGG ANTIBODIES AGAINST CANDIDA-ALBICANS CELL-WALL MANNAN

In the present study, we assayed mannan-specific IgE and IgG antibodie s in samples of serum isolated from blood collected from adult patient s with bronchial asthma, using a liquid-phase method with a polysaccha ride, mannan (Mn), purified from Candida albicans (C. alb), and invest igated the relationships of allergenicity among a crude extract of C. alb, purified Mn, and acid protease (AP). The correlations between the titers of anti-Mn A and anti-Mn B IgE and IgG were very strong, and t he levels of inhibition of anti-Mn A IgE and IgG reactions by Mn A and Mn B were almost identical. Although no common allergenicity was obse rved between Mn A and AP because there was no correlation between the titers of anti-Mn A and anti-AP IgE, and no inhibition of the anti-Mn A IgE reaction by AP, both antigens were found to exist in crude C. al b. The level of inhibition of anti-crude C. alb IgG reaction by Mn A o r Mn B was about 60%. Approximately 70% inhibition of the anti-Mn A Ig E reaction was observed for eight different fungal allergen extracts, but no inhibition was observed for 11 of the other fungal allergen ext racts tested. The above results indicate that common antigenicity was observed between Mn A and Mn B in the human IgE and IgG antibody produ ction system, and the cross-allergenicity observed among some fungi wa s considered to be the result of the common antigenicity of Mn isoform s.