Mapping of Candida albicans oligomannosidic epitopes by using monoclonal antibodies.

Six monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) from various laboratory sources (EB-CA1, EB-CA2, H5, AF1, C6, and 5B2), reacting with the polysaccharidic moieties of Candida albicans mannoproteins, were used for epitope mapping by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with neoglycolipids and by Western blotting (immunoblotting) of a C. albicans germ tube extract. The ELISA involved neoglycolipids constructed from three families of oligomannosides released by sequential depolymerization of C. albicans phosphopeptidomannan by acid hydrolysis (NGLH), beta-elimination (NGLO), and acetolysis (NGLA). All of the MAbs exhibited low reactivities against NGLO. MAbs EB-CA1, EB-CA2, and H5 reacted mainly against NGLA, and MAbs C6 and AF1 recognized mainly NGLH, whereas MAb 5B2 reacted with both families of neoantigens. When this method was compared with Western blotting, strong reactivity to NGLA was associated with the presence of epitopes shared by high-molecular-weight mannoproteins, whereas strong reactivity to NGLH was associated with a reactivity to a family of 14- to 18-kDa antigens. The reactivity of MAb 5B2 was associated with both high-molecular-weight mannoproteins and the 14- to 18-kDa antigens. In relation to the present knowledge about the structure of the C. albicans phosphopeptidomannan oligomannosidic repertoire, these results provide preliminary data concerning the molecular basis of the recognition of mannopyranosyl sequences by MAbs and their distribution among C. albicans mannoproteins.