A Comparison of Antigens of Trichophytion Rubrum Obtained by Some Methods of Preparation

Westphal's and Reyes and Friedman's methods of extraction were used to study the antigens of Trichophyton rubrum. Three types of antigens were compared - phenolic (P) and aqueous (A) materials from mechanically ground organisms, precipitated by increasing gradients of ethanol and extra cellular (X) metabolites (concentrated medium) precipitated by increasing gradients of acetone. There was no yield after concentration of 75% for both ethanol and acetone. The extra cellar material (X) had the maximum nitrogen content. Polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis separations stained by PAS and amido black showed a few common PAS positive bands in the three polyvalent extracts. (X) was the richest in protein and showed four bands. Antisera -,zre raised in rabbi using (P) , (A) and (X) material. (X) was an effective antigen showing two immuno - precipitates with homologous antibody and one each with (P) and (A) in agar gel double diff usion (AGD) and as many as eight components in two dimensional crossed immunoelectrophoresis (2D - CIEP). (A) and (P) materials were poorly antigenic. Antisera to these had no reactivity in AGD and showed only one and two precipitinogens respectively in 2D - CIEP.