PURPOSE:

The study of the immunocompetent airways immune response may provide important information to improve the therapeutic efficacy against Lomentospora (Scedosporium) prolificans. So, this study aimed to identify the most prevalent conidial antigens of this multiresistant fungus recognized by healthy human salivary IgA, and to study their expression and cross-reactivity with other fungal species.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN:

Twenty saliva from immunocompetent donors were used to detect and identify the immunoreactive proteins by 2D immunoblotting and LC-MS/MS. Moreover, anti-Aspergillus antibodies were purified to study their cross-reactivity.

RESULTS:

Ten proteins of L. prolificans conidia showed reactivity with more than 50% of the saliva samples. Among them, cyclophilin and enolase were the most prevalent antigens, recognized by 85 and 80% of the samples, respectively. These enzymes were also identified on the cell-wall surface of L. prolificans and on the immunomes of S. apiospermum and S. aurantiacum. Additionally, they showed cross-reactivity with the most common pathogenic filamentous fungus A. fumigatus.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE:

These results show that the immunocompetent immune response might offer a pan-fungal recognition of conserved antigens such as enolase and cyclophilins, making them potential candidates for study as therapeutic targets.