Immunobiological characteristic of antigens from the parasitic phase of Coccidiodes immitis.

The possibility of obtaining serologically active antigens from tissue spherules extracted from the lungs of albino mice infected with C. immitis has been demonstrated. Unlike the method of obtaining spherules in vitro, the accumulation of sufficient quantities of tissue spherules does not involve special difficulties. To obtain more pure and specific antigens from crude tissue spherules material, chromatographic separation on a column with Sephadex G-100 is recommended. Antigens obtained from the spherules in vivo have been found to be more specific and active in serological and allergic reactions in comparison with the corresponding antigens from the mycelial form or from spherules in vitro and can be used in the diagnosis of coccidioidosis as well as in the study of the mechanism of cellular immunity.