Antibodies reactive with the cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide glucuronoxylomannan are present in sera from children with and without human immunodeficiency virus infection

J Infect Dis. 1999 Sep;180(3):915-9. doi: 10.1086/314953.

Abstract

Antibodies reactive with the cryptococcal polysaccharide glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) are present in sera from both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-uninfected and -infected adults. However, the prevalence of these antibodies in US children is unknown. An antigen-capture ELISA was used to determine the presence, serotype specificity, isotype, and IgG subclass distribution of antibodies to GXM in sera from 27 HIV-uninfected and 34 HIV-infected children. The children were of similar age and socioeconomic background. IgG and IgM to GXM were present in sera from all children, although HIV-uninfected children had significantly higher titers. HIV-uninfected children had IgG1 and IgG2 to GXM and significantly greater IgG2 than in HIV-infected children. These findings of type-specific antibodies to GXM in early childhood suggest that exposure to or subclinical infection with Cryptococcus neoformans may be an early childhood event.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / blood
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / immunology*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Fungal / blood*
  • Antibody Specificity
  • Antigens, Fungal / immunology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cryptococcosis / blood
  • Cryptococcosis / immunology*
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / immunology*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • HIV Infections / immunology*
  • HIV Seronegativity / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Infant
  • Polysaccharides / immunology*
  • Reference Values

Substances

  • Antibodies, Fungal
  • Antigens, Fungal
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Polysaccharides
  • glucuronoxylomannan