Infect. Immun., Apr 1997, 1335-1344, Vol 65, No. 4
Copyright © 1997, American Society for Microbiology

Characterization of the Aspergillus nidulans aspnd1 gene demonstrates that the ASPND1 antigen, which it encodes, and several Aspergillus fumigatus immunodominant antigens belong to the same family

JA Calera, MC Ovejero, R Lopez-Medrano, M Segurado, P Puente and F Leal
Departamento de Microbiologia y Genetica, Universidad de Salamanca, Spain.

For the first time, an immunodominant Aspergillus nidulans antigen (ASPND1) consistently reactive with serum samples from aspergilloma patients has been purified and characterized, and its coding gene (aspnd1) has been cloned and sequenced. ASPND1 is a glycoprotein with four N-glycosidically-bound sugar chains (around 2.1 kDa each) which are not necessary for reactivity with immune human sera. The polypeptide part is synthesized as a 277-amino-acid precursor of 30.6 kDa that after cleavage of a putative signal peptide of 16 amino acids, affords a mature protein of 261 amino acids with a molecular mass of 29 kDa and a pI of 4.24 (as deduced from the sequence). The ASPND1 protein is 53.1% identical to the AspfII allergen from Aspergillus fumigatus and 48% identical to an unpublished Candida albicans antigen. All of the cysteine residues and most of the glycosylation sites are perfectly conserved in the three proteins, suggesting a similar but yet unknown function. Analysis of the primary structure of the ASPND1 coding gene (aspnd1) has allowed the establishment of a clear relationship between several previously reported A. fumigatus and A. nidulans immunodominant antigens.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Vicentefranqueira, R., Moreno, M. A., Leal, F., Calera, J. A. (2005). The zrfA and zrfB Genes of Aspergillus fumigatus Encode the Zinc Transporter Proteins of a Zinc Uptake System Induced in an Acid, Zinc-Depleted Environment. Eukaryot Cell 4: 837-848 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Viudes, A., Perea, S., Lopez-Ribot, J. L. (2001). Identification of Continuous B-Cell Epitopes on the Protein Moiety of the 58-Kilodalton Cell Wall Mannoprotein of Candida albicans Belonging to a Family of Immunodominant Fungal Antigens. Infect. Immun. 69: 2909-2919 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Banerjee, B., Greenberger, P. A., Fink, J. N., Kurup, V. P. (1999). Conformational and Linear B-Cell Epitopes of Asp f 2, a Major Allergen of Aspergillus fumigatus, Bind Differently to Immunoglobulin E Antibody in the Sera of Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis Patients. Infect. Immun. 67: 2284-2291 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Segurado, M., Lopez-Aragon, R., Calera, J. A., Fernandez-Abalos, J. M., Leal, F. (1999). Zinc-Regulated Biosynthesis of Immunodominant Antigens from Aspergillus spp.. Infect. Immun. 67: 2377-2382 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Latge, J.-P. (1999). Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillosis. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. 12: 310-350 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Banerjee, B., Greenberger, P. A., Fink, J. N., Kurup, V. P. (1998). Immunological Characterization of Asp f 2, a Major Allergen from Aspergillus fumigatus Associated with Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis. Infect. Immun. 66: 5175-5182 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Calera, J., Ovejero, M., Lopez-Medrano, R, Lopez-Aragon, R, Puente, P, Leal, F (1998). The recombinant antigen ASPND1r from Aspergillus nidulans is specifically recognized by sera from patients with aspergilloma. Microbiology 144: 561-567 [Abstract]  
• Sentandreu, M., Elorza, M. V., Sentandreu, R., Fonzi, W. A. (1998). Cloning and Characterization of PRA1, a Gene Encoding a Novel pH-Regulated Antigen of Candida albicans. J. Bacteriol. 180: 282-289 [Abstract] [Full Text]