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 Similar articles in PubMed 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 Cox, R A Articles by Harrison, J L Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cox, R A Articles by Harrison, J L

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Infect Immun. 1992 August; 60(8): 3315-3324

Localization of the tube precipitin and complement fixation antigens of Coccidioides immitis by immunoelectron microscopy with murine monoclonal antibodies.

Department of Research Immunology, San Antonio State Chest Hospital, Texas 78223.

ABSTRACT

The cellular localization of the tube precipitin (TP) and complement fixation (CF) antigens of Coccidioides immitis was examined by immunoelectron microscopy with murine immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibodies directed against the TP and CF antigens, respectively. Immunoelectron microscopic analyses of saprobic- and parasitic-phase cells showed that the TP antigen is present at a high concentration within the inner cell wall layer and along the plasma membrane. The antigen was also detected, at a lesser concentration, within cytoplasmic vacuoles. In contrast to the predominant localization of the TP antigen in the cell walls, the CF antigen residues primarily within the cytoplasm, where it appears to be dispersed throughout the cytoplasm rather than associated with a specific cytoplasmic organelle. A sparse amount of the CF antigen within the inner cell walls was also demonstrable. The localization of the TP and CF antigens throughout the morphogenetic phases of C. immitis has important implications in antigen production and in analyses of host response in coccidioidomycosis.