Isolation and partial characterization of immunologically reactive fractions from chitinase digested cell wall of Trichophyton mentagrophytes.

Cell wall preparations of Trichophyton mentagrophytes were digested with chitinase following which various fractions were isolated by ultrafiltration and Sephadex gel filtration. All fractions isolated contained both polysaccharide and peptide material. A correlation was seen between those fractions capable of eliciting immediate and delayed skin reactions in sensitized guinea pigs and those capable of stimulating the in vitro proliferation of lymphocytes taken from sensitized guinea pigs. These immunologically active fractions also developed precipitin lines with antiserum taken from sensitized animals. A low molecular weight fraction was found to be completely reactive immunologically (UM2(a)), and appeared to have a molecular weight in the range of 2,000--4,000 as assessed by ultrafiltration and gel filtration studies.