[Characterization of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis antigens. Serological immunodiagnosis using western blotting]

The electrophoretic characterization on SDS-PAGE gels of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis antigens, strains 2511 and 6688; and the additional use of immunoblotting has permitted in this study to identify the immunogenic, sensitive and specific antigen fractions for the diagnosis of Paracoccidioidomycosis. The antigenic preparations showed differences depending on the morphologic form of the fungus and the method utilized. The procedure revealed heterogeneity in the humoral immune response of the patients studied and permitted us to establish indices of activity of Paracoccidioidomycosis by the sequential analysis of sera obtained during different stages of the disease. The high sensitivity of this method makes it useful as an additional technique for the serologic immunodiagnosis of Paracoccidioidomycosis.