[Immunochemical study of surface glycoconjugates of yeast-like fungus of the Candida genus].

Two complex preparations (extract I and extract II) of surface antigens were obtained from the yeast-like fungus Candida maltosa by treatment of intact cells with beta-mercaptoethylamine and pronase. Immune diffusion in agar gel revealed antigenic heterogeneity of the preparations. Both of the extracts were found to have at least 3 antigenic components. The extracts induce hypersensitivity of intact guinea pigs and candida sensitization on the 12th day after the injection of Candida maltose intact cells into the animals. The common antigen components of extracts I and II were found by means of immunochemical and chromatographic assays. The extracts preserved the antigenic activity after enzyme hydrolysis with pronase.