Allergenic/antigenic proteins are known to induce Type I and Type III hypersensitivity reactions leading to allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in immunocompetent host. The common structural features or intrinsic properties of the allergens/antigens leading to allergenicity in a host are not well understood. In the current report, comparative analysis of proteins on two dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D-3) and specific IgE immunoblots ofA. fumigatus secretory proteins (1(st), 2(nd) and 3(rd) week culture filtrate proteins) was carried out. We observed a total of 159 proteins in 1(st), 2(nd) and 3(rd) week culture filtrates ofA. fumigatus. Specific IgE immunoreactivity was observed in 75 proteins with different intensity. Third week culture filtrate showed maximum number of proteins, 142, and specific IgE immunoreactive proteins, 65. MALDI-TOF analysis resulted in putative identification of two allergens as hypothetical protein YBL057c fromSaccharomyces cereviseae and unnamed protein product fromDebaryomyces hansenii (similar to IPF14568 ofCandida albicans). Identification of a repertoire of specific IgE immunoreactive proteins will facilitate the studies on structure-function relationship of these proteins relevant for diagnosis and pathogenesis.
Keywords: Aspergillus fumigatus; Immunoproteomics.