Conjugation of yeast mannans with protein employing cyanopyridinium agent (CDAP) - an effective route of antifungal vaccine preparation

The possibility of using 1-cyano-4-dimethylaminopyridinium tetrafluoroborat e (CDAP) for activation of saccharide hydroxyl groups (instead of hazardous cyanogen bromide) is examined with cell-surface mannans of the yeasts Cand ida albicans,Candida tropicalis, Candida lambica and galactoglucoxylomannan of Cryptococcus laurentii. Direct conjugation with human serum albumin yie lded soluble products with increased molecular size in comparison with the original polysaccharides. Immunodiffusion experiments revealed that conjuga tion did not affect the immunospecificity of the antigen epitope.