The 74-kilodalton immunodominant antigen of the pathogenic oomycete Pythium insidiosum is a putative exo-1,3-beta-glucanase.

ABSTRACT: The oomycetous, fungus-like, aquatic organism Pythium insidiosum is the causative agent of pythiosis, a life-threatening infectious disease of humans and animals living in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Common sites of infection are the arteries, eyes, cutaneous/subcutaneous tissues, and gastrointestinal tract. Diagnosis of pythiosis is time-consuming and difficult. Radical excision of the infected organs is the main treatment for pythiosis because conventional antifungal drugs are ineffective. An immunotherapeutic vaccine prepared from P. insidiosum crude extract showed limited efficacy in the treatment of pythiosis patients. Many pythiosis patients suffer lifelong disabilities or die from an advanced infection. Recently, we identified a 74-kDa major immunodominant antigen o

SUBMITTER: Krajaejun T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2916248 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature