01). From the right to the left: in red and blue colour A. Barasertib fumigatus (strains IHEM 22145 and IHEM18963) and in green and yellow colour A. lentulus (strains IHEM 22148 and IHEM 22149). Even if these two species are morphologically very similar, it has been shown that they display differences in their cell wall composition, i.e. A. lentulus contains less chitin than A. fumigatus [9], is less

thermotolerant and produced different secondary metabolites. The conidium surface is smooth and lack hydrophobic rodlet layer. These biochemical and structural differences could explain a distinguishable protein pattern. Conclusions The qualitative learn more and quantitative results provided by SELDI-TOF-MS can be obtained in a rapid, sensitive and reproducible way if careful

and standardized procedures are used for sample preparation and storage. The spectra obtained on CM10 chip essentially are protein signatures representative of the strains and of their physiological states. The proteomic analysis allows the distinction of not only the closely related species A. fumigatus and A. lentulus but also natural mutants within the A. fumigatus species. Furthermore, it could be an analytical tool in the research of molecular mechanisms involved in the physiopathology of A. fumigatus. It could be also a powerful method for quality control of antigenic extracts for diagnosis purposes. Methods selleck inhibitor Fungal strains All the strains detailed in Table 1 were referenced and preserved in the BCCM/IHEM Collection of the Scientific Institute of Public Health, Brussels, Belgium (http://​bccm.​belspo.​be/​db/​ihem_​search_​form.​php). They consisted of three wild-type strains of A. fumigatus (WT), including strain Af 293 used for genome sequencing of A. fumigatus

and four natural abnormally pigmented strains of A. fumigatus (M) among which one brown and three white strains. All the isolates were identified by macroscopic and microscopic morphology. Their identification was confirmed by internal transcribed spacers (ITS) regions of ribosomal C1GALT1 DNA gene and by β-tubulin gene sequencing [8, 44]. Two A. lentulus strains came from the CBS collection (Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Utrecht, The Netherlands). Table 1 References, characteristics and origin of the different Aspergillus fumigatus (Afu) and Aspergillus lentulus (Ale) strains used IHEM Number Other acronym Species Afu/Ale Strain characteristics Substrate origin, underlying disease Year isolation, Country 9599   Afu WT* human blood culture, IA (hepatoblastoma), 1995, France 22145   Afu WT Human cerebral biopsy, IA (leukaemia) 2001, France 18963 Af293 Afu WT Human lung, IA (autopsy), reference sequencing project 1993, UK 2508   Afu White M** Hospital environment 1985, Belgium 9860 CBS 386.75 Afu White M Usar soil 1975, India 13262 CBS 110.