Exoantigen Studies of Sporothrix schenckii, Ceratocystis minor, and Graphium penicilliodes cultures

Cultures of Sporothrix schenckii were serologically tested by the exoantigen immunodiffusion technique of Kaufman and Standard (L. Kaufman and P.G. Standard, J. Clin. Microbiol. 8:42-45, 1978). This rapid and sensitive technique permitted the identification of 10 isolates of S. schenckii within 3 days. The production of the antigen-antiserum reference system and exoantigens with two different methods are reported. The demonstration of common antigens in S. schenckii and Ceratocystis minor, the suspected perfect state of S. schenckii, indicates that the two are antigenically related; however, the question as to whether C. minor represents the perfect form of S. schenckii will depend upon the induction of a sexual state in S. schenckii.