RESUMEN
The aim of this study was to evaluate, through lectin histochemistry, the expression of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, L-fucose, D-galactose and glucose/mannose on the cell wall surfaces of Aspergillus species in histopathological specimens of brain (n = 1) and lung (n = 6) tissues obtained during autopsy of patients diagnosed postmortem as having had invasive aspergillosis. Concanavalin A (Con A), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), Ulex europeus agglutinin I (UEA-I) and peanut agglutinin (PNA), all conjugated with horseradish peroxidase, were employed. Lectin-binding was visualized using 3,3-diaminobendizine (DAB) and hydrogen peroxide in phosphate buffer solution (PBS). We observed expression of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and methyl-α-D-mannoside on the cell wall surfaces of all evaluated Aspergillus species, while the expression of L-fucose and D-galactose demonstrated inter and intra-specific variations. The results obtained from this study indicate that the use of WGA and Con A lectins permits visualization of Aspergillus structures such as hyphae, conidial heads and conidia in histopathological specimens of brain and lung tissues.