Pathogenesis of vaginal candidiasis: studies with a mutant which has reduced ability to adhere in vitro.
A spontaneous, cerulenin-resistant mutant of Candida albicans (strain 4918-10) was found to adhere less readily to human vaginal mucosal cells in vitro than a wild type C. albicans (strain 4918). In a murine model of vaginal infection, strain 4918-10 was found to be less virulent than wild type C. albicans, i.e., the infection rate caused by 4918-10 was only 31% of that observed with wild type, 4918. A chitin-soluble extract (CSE) prepared from 4918 blocked attachment of yeast cells to human vaginal epithelial cells, while CSE from 4918-10 did not significantly reduce the attachment of yeasts to vaginal cells. Both 4918 and 4918-10 produced hyphae in vitro and in vivo, were negative for proteinase production and grew equally well at 28 degrees C and 37 degrees C. The data suggest that adherence to vaginal mucosa may be an important determinant in the pathogenesis of vaginal infection caused by C. albicans.
D000268:Adhesiveness; D000818:Animals; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000382:microbiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002569:Cerulenin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002686:Chitin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000382:microbiology; D009154:Mutation; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*; D014774:Virulence
D002686:Chitin; D002569:Cerulenin