The use of a two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis joined with Western blotting allowed us to investigate the reactivities of antibodies present in sera from mice and humans to antigens ...of
Candida albicans blastoconidia. The analysis of the antibody response in the two models studied and the comparison between the antibody response in infected and non-infected individuals showed that the infection by
C. albicans produces changes in the antibody response which may be of relevance in the serodiagnosis of invasive candidiasis. These changes include the induction of antibodies against new antigens, the disappearance of antibodies against a group of antigens and variations in the reactivity of antibodies directed to a different group of antigens. The technique used resolved the isoforms of several antigens including enolase. It is concluded that the antibody response in humans and mice with candidiasis is not homogeneously directed to all the isoforms of an antigen.
The effect of germ tube induction on the antigenic variability in C.albicans was studied in strains from blood cultures (Group I) and superficial candidiasis (Group II). When compared by ...immunoblotting with a rabbit antiserum, antigenic extracts from Group I strains grown as blastospores showed a higher reactivity than that of Group II strains. Major bands in Group I strains (45-47, 33, 30 kDa) were continuously expressed through the subcultures in vitro but, with the exception of the 45 kDa band, the reactivity of all of them decreased or disappeared after the tenth subculture in Group II strains. The induction of the germ tubes produced the re-expression of the antigens lost during subculture in the yeast form, the effect being very clear in Group II strains. The re-expression by C. albicans germ tubes of antigens lost during subculture of blastospores in vitro and the higher reactivity shown by Group I strains grown in mycelial phase should be taken into consideration when a test to detect anti-C. albicans antibodies is to be developed.
Abstract
The use of a two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis joined with Western blotting allowed us to investigate the reactivities of antibodies present in sera from mice and humans to ...antigens of Candida albicans blastoconidia. The analysis of the antibody response in the two models studied and the comparison between the antibody response in infected and non-infected individuals showed that the infection by C. albicans produces changes in the antibody response which may be of relevance in the serodiagnosis of invasive candidiasis. These changes include the induction of antibodies against new antigens, the disappearance of antibodies against a group of antigens and variations in the reactivity of antibodies directed to a different group of antigens. The technique used resolved the isoforms of several antigens including enolase. It is concluded that the antibody response in humans and mice with candidiasis is not homogeneously directed to all the isoforms of an antigen.
The phagocytic and candidacidal activities of the peritoneal cells of Candida albicans‐infected mice were studied 20 days following experimental infection. Both activities were enhanced during ...infection. The production of nitric oxide (NO) by the peritoneal cells of infected mice was determined, and an increase in the nitrite concentration in supernatants of peritoneal cell cultures was detected. The period of NO production by the peritoneal cells coincided partially with the period of enhanced C. albicans killing. The inhibition of NO synthesis by N‐monomethyl‐l‐arginine was concomitant with inhibition of candidacidal activity. We conclude that NO systhesis is the primary candidacidal mechanism of the murine peritoneal cells activated by C. albicans infection.
The phagocytic and candidacidal activities of the peritoneal cells of
Candida albicans-infected mice were studied 20 days following experimental infection. Both activities were enhanced during ...infection. The production of nitric oxide (NO) by the peritoneal cells of infected mice was determined, and an increase in the nitrite concentration in supernatants of peritoneal cell cultures was detected. The period of NO production by the peritoneal cells coincided partially with the period of enhanced
C. albicans killing. The inhibition of NO synthesis by
N-monomethyl-
l-arginine was concomitant with inhibition of candidacidal activity. We conclude that NO systhesis is the primary candidacidal mechanism of the murine peritoneal cells activated by
C. albicans infection.
Abstract
The effect of chitin, a polysaccharide of the cell wall of Candida albicans, on both the survival of C. albicans infected mice and the activity of the murine peritoneal macrophages has been ...studied. Pretreatment of mice with 30 mg kg−1C. albicans chitin enhanced the survival of the infected animals. The protective effect was concomitant with an enhancement of both phagocytic and candidacidal activities of the peritoneal macrophages. Chitin by itself did not induce the nitric oxide (NO) synthase in the macrophages, which remained at a level similar to that shown by the macrophages from untreated animals. The administration of 10 mg kg−1C. albicans chitin diminished the long term survival of the infected animals. This effect was coincident with a lower candidacidal activity and NO production by the macrophages of the chitin treated and infected animals, compared to the untreated infected animals.
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