Supplementary Studies on the Antigens of Genus Candida

II. Antigenic Analysis of four Species of the Genus Kloeckera

Abstract

The authenic strains of the four species of the genus Kloeckera weree used for antigen analyses by means of slide agglutination method with monospecific or absorbed antisera homologous to antigens of the genus Candida, because there are seroglogical cross reactions among many species of the genera. Then, antiserum of a species was absorbed repeatedly with heated cells of several species of the genus Candida in order to find a new antigen, until the absorded antiserum was exhausted. The new thermostable antigen 40 was found in Kl. africana, Kl. corticis and Kl. antillarum. Antigenic strutures of the species were confirmed by the reciprocal absorption and the comparative study was carried out with a few strains of the same species. Antigenic structures of the four species were shown as follows : Kl. apiculata has thermostable antigens 1, 9, 10, 26, 27, 28, 32 and new thermolabile antigen l, Kl. africana has thermostable antigens 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 32, 40 and no thermolabile antigen, and it is completely the same to the antigenic structure of Kl. corticis. Kl. antillarum has thermostable antigens 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 40 and no thermolabile antigen.