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Infection and Immunity, May 1999, p. 2377-2382, Vol. 67, No. 5
0019-9567/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Zinc-Regulated Biosynthesis of Immunodominant Antigens from Aspergillus spp.

Mónica Segurado, Raquel López-Aragón, José Antonio Calera, José Manuel Fernández-Abalos, and Fernando Leal^*

Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain

Received 3 August 1998/Returned for modification 17 September 1998/Accepted 29 January 1999

ASPND1 and ASPF2 are immunodominant antigens from Aspergillus nidulans and A. fumigatus, respectively, that are readily synthesized in infections in the human host, as demonstrated by their reactivity with more than 80% of sera from patients with aspergilloma or allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. We demonstrate here that both antigens are exclusively produced under situations of low bioavailability of free Zn²⁺. Addition of micromolar concentrations of Zn²⁺ to the culture medium strongly stimulated Aspergillus growth but totally inhibited ASPND1 or ASPF2 production. This effect was specific, since other divalent metals had no effect. Removal of endogenous Zn²⁺ by a chelator also stimulated ASPND1 production, and the effect was specifically reversed by Zn²⁺. These results suggest a possible role of these antigens in the survival of the fungus in the lungs.

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^* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Dpto. Microbiología y Genética, Ed. Departamental Biología, Lab 218, Avda. del Campo Charro s/n, 37007 Salamanca, Spain. Phone: 34-923-294732. Fax: 34-923-224876. E-mail: fleal{at}gugu.usal.es.

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Infection and Immunity, May 1999, p. 2377-2382, Vol. 67, No. 5
0019-9567/99/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

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