Inhibition of yeast growth by broadly cross-reactive antisera elicited by heterologous mannan-protein conjugate

Abstract

A new approach to obtain broadly cross-reactive antisera against important yeast pathogens by intensive hyperimmunization with polysaccharide-protein conjugates is described here. Surface mannan of Candida albicans and capsular galactoglucoxylomannan of Cryptococcus laurentii were isolated and chemically linked to human serum albumin. Antisera elicited by a 7-week vigorous immunization of rabbits with the conjugates showed effective cross-reactive growth inhibition of different representatives of Candida spp. as well as Cryptococcus spp. IgG antibodies are evidenced as the effective component of the antisera.