ASCA-related antibodies in the blood sera of healthy donors and patients with colorectal cancer: characterization with oligosaccharides related to mannan.

Mannans are polysaccharide antigens expressed on the cell wall of different fungal species including and spp. These fungi are components of the normal intestinal microflora, and the presence of antibodies to fungal antigens is known to reflect the features of the patient's immune system. Thus, titers of IgG and IgA antibodies against mannan (ASCA) are markers for clinical diagnostics of inflammatory bowel diseases.