Identification of glucan-mannoprotein complexes in the cell wall of Candida albicans using a monoclonal antibody that reacts with a (1,6)- -glucan epitope

The use of a novel monoclonal antibody (mAb) that reacts with (1,6)-beta-glucan has permitted the study of the different covalent linkages between glucan and mannoproteins in the cell wall of Candida albicans. The mAb JRR1 was originally raised by immunization with Zymolyase extracts from C. albicans cell walls, but it soon became apparent that it reacted with a (1,6)-beta-glucan epitope. By using this antibody, we show the existence of glucan-mannoprotein complexes between the (1,6)-beta-glucan epitope recognized by the antibody and cell wall mannoproteins. The topology of the (1,6)-beta-glucan in the cell wall of C. albicans has also been studied.