Glycolipids from Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Isolation of a galactofuranose-containing glycolipid reactive with sera of patients with paracoccidioidomycosis

In the present study, we describe the isolation of glycolipids from yeast and mycelium forms of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Both forms contains glucosylceramide as the only neutral glycosphingolipid and two acidic glycolipids termed band 1 and band 2. Band 1 was found to be reactive with 100% of sera of patients with paracoccidioidomycosis tested. Structural analysis of band 1 revealed that it is composed of mannose and galactose in molar ratios of 2:1, and a trace amount of glucose. Furthermore, this paper presents evidence that the galactose unit of band 1 is in the furanose configuration. Finally, it was found that reactivity of paracoccidioidomycosis sera with band 1 glycolipid can be attributed mainly to antibodies directed to galactofuranosyl residue present in this glycoconjugate.