title: Opsonic effect of C-reactive protein on phagocytosis and intracellular killing of virulent and attenuated strains of Candida albicans by human neutrophils.
abstract: In the presence of autologous complement, maximal phagocytosis of Candida albicans blastospores of both a virulent and attenuated strain by human neutrophils in a monolayer assay was achieved after 30 min. The proportion of phagocytes containing intracellular blastospores was 33-36% with an average of 1.5 blastospores per phagocyte. In contrast to the attenuated strain of C. albicans, the virulent strain resisted opsonization by C-reactive protein (CRP) and of those blastospores ingested, only 8% were killed. These findings support the concept that CRP may play a protective role in candidosis independent of complement. The fate of strains of different virulence may be a result of differences in CRP receptors or killing mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Glasgow, U.K.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Shankland
mesh_terms: D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009895:Opsonin Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013172:Spores, Fungal; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D009895:Opsonin Proteins; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D002097:C-Reactive Protein