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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, February 2003, p. 845-850, Vol. 41, No. 2
0095-1137/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.41.2.845-850.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

AFLMP1 Encodes an Antigenic Cell Wall Protein in Aspergillus flavus

Patrick C. Y. Woo,1 Ken T. K. Chong,1 Andy S. P. Leung,1 Samson S. Y. Wong,1 Susanna K. P. Lau,1 and Kwok-Yung Yuen1,2*

Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital,1 HKU-Pasteur Research Centre, Hong Kong2

Received 8 July 2002/ Returned for modification 7 November 2002/ Accepted 14 November 2002

We have previously reported the cloning and characterization of the MP1 gene in Penicillium marneffei and the AFMP1 gene in Aspergillus fumigatus and their use for serodiagnosis of penicilliosis and aspergilloma and invasive aspergillosis, respectively. In this study, we describe the cloning of the AFLMP1 gene, which encodes the homologous antigenic cell wall protein in Aspergillus flavus, the most common Aspergillus species associated with human disease in our locality and in other Asian countries and the second most common Aspergillus species associated with human disease in Western countries. AFLMP1 codes for a protein, Aflmp1p, of 273 amino acid residues, with a few sequence features that are present in Mp1p and Afmp1p, the homologous antigenic cell wall proteins in P. marneffei and A. fumigatus, respectively, as well as several other cell wall proteins of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans. It contains a serine- and threonine-rich region for O glycosylation, a signal peptide, and a putative glycosylphosphatidylinositol attachment signal sequence. Specific anti-Aflmp1p antibody was generated with recombinant Aflmp1p protein purified from Escherichia coli to allow further characterization of Aflmp1p. Indirect immunofluorescence analysis indicated that Aflmp1p is present on the surface of the hyphae of A. flavus. Finally, it was observed that patients with aspergilloma and invasive aspergillosis due to A. flavus develop a specific antibody response against Aflmp1p. This suggested that the recombinant protein and its antibody may be useful for serodiagnosis in patients with aspergilloma or invasive aspergillosis, and the protein may represent a good cell surface target for host humoral immunity.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, University Pathology Bldg., Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong. Phone: (852) 28554892. Fax: (852) 28551241. E-mail: hkumicro{at}hkucc.hku.hk.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, February 2003, p. 845-850, Vol. 41, No. 2
0095-1137/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.41.2.845-850.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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