Glycan microarray analysis of <i>Candida</i> -related antibodies in human and mice sera guides biomarker discovery and vaccine development

E Emelie E. Reuber (Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max-Planck-Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany) E Emer Hickey (Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, University of Exeter) A Arnab Pradhan (Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, University of Exeter) R Rosanne Sprute (Institute of Translational Research, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne) T Tilman Lingscheid (Department of Infectious Diseases and Critical Care Medicine, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) P Pinkus Tober-Lau (Department of Infectious Diseases and Critical Care Medicine, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) I Ian Leaves (Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, University of Exeter) M Mark H. T. Stappers (Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, University of Exeter) F Florian Kurth (Department of Infectious Diseases and Critical Care Medicine, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) M Mariolina Bruno (Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center) M Mihai G. Netea (Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center) L Leif E. Sander O Oliver A. Cornely (Institute of Translational Research, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne) N Neil A. R. Gow A Alistair J. P. Brown (Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, University of Exeter) R Rajat K. Singh (Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin) S Sabrina Omoregbee-Leichnitz (Freie Universität Berlin) E Eric T. Sletten (Biomolecular Systems Department, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces) J José Danglad-Flores (Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces) P Peter H. Seeberger (Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max-Planck-Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Muehlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany)

Abstract

Invasive, high-mortality yeast infections caused by pathogenic Candida species are the most common fungal nosocomial bloodstream infections. The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for improved prevention and diagnostic strategies for fungal pathogens. Here, we demonstrate that Candida -related antibodies can be detected using glycan microarrays containing synthetic glycans to guide the discovery of oligosaccharide epitopes for diagnostics and vaccine design. Pure, synthetic mannans and β -glucans, resembling carbohydrates found on the surface of Candida spp., were employed to screen and compare sera from infected humans and mice with noninfected individuals. IgM antibodies directed toward β -glucans were observed shortly after infection, and after a longer time of infection, IgM and IgG antibodies that preferentially recognize mannans. Phosphodiester-linked mannosides and the β -(1,2)-mannose monomer help to distinguish different Candida spp. The tetrasaccharide antigen β -(1,2)Man- α -(1,2)Man- α -(1,2)Man- α -(1,2)Man, and the pentasaccharide antigens α -(1,2)Man- α -(1,3)Man- α -(1,2)Man- α -(1,2)Man- α -(1,2)Man and β -(1,3)Glc- β -(1,3)Glc- β -(1,3)Glc-[ β -(1,6)Glc]- β -(1,3)Glc were identified as potential epitopes for detection, e.g., through monoclonal antibody lateral flow tests, and the development of glycoconjugate or monoclonal antibody vaccines against Candida.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 122, Issue 39
Published September 30, 2025
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (20)

E

Emelie E. Reuber

Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max-Planck-Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany

E

Emer Hickey

Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, University of Exeter

A

Arnab Pradhan

Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, University of Exeter

R

Rosanne Sprute

Institute of Translational Research, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne

T

Tilman Lingscheid

Department of Infectious Diseases and Critical Care Medicine, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

P

Pinkus Tober-Lau

Department of Infectious Diseases and Critical Care Medicine, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

I

Ian Leaves

Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, University of Exeter

M

Mark H. T. Stappers

Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, University of Exeter

F

Florian Kurth

Department of Infectious Diseases and Critical Care Medicine, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

M

Mariolina Bruno

Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center

M

Mihai G. Netea

Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center

L

Leif E. Sander

O

Oliver A. Cornely

Institute of Translational Research, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, University of Cologne

N

Neil A. R. Gow

A

Alistair J. P. Brown

Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology at the University of Exeter, University of Exeter

R

Rajat K. Singh

Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin

S

Sabrina Omoregbee-Leichnitz

Freie Universität Berlin

E

Eric T. Sletten

Biomolecular Systems Department, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces

J

José Danglad-Flores

Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces

P

Peter H. Seeberger

Department of Biomolecular Systems, Max-Planck-Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Muehlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany