title: Serum antibody response of gnotobiotic athymic and euthymic mice following alimentary tract colonization and infection with Candida albicans.
abstract: Colonization and infection evoked specific immunoglobulin responses to Candida albicans antigens in gnotobiotic nu/+ mice which appeared to correlate with clearance of infected mucosal surfaces (tongue and stomach). Conversely, colonized and infected nu/nu mice formed some IgM but no detectable IgG or IgA antibodies against C. albicans antigens. Although chronic mucosal infections of tongue and stomach persisted in nu/nu mice, they were able to resist overwhelming mucosal and systemic infections with C. albicans. Thus, C. albicans specific antibodies may play a role in clearance of mucosal candidiasis (tongue and stomach), but these antibodies do not appear to be necessary for protecting athymic mice against systemic candidiasis of endogenous origin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison 53706.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Balish
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Filutowicz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000276:immunology*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D007136:Immunoglobulins