title: Adherence of germ tubes of Candida albicans to tissues from immunocompromised mice.
abstract: The influence of immune status of the host on binding of germ tubes of Candida albicans to murine tissue sections in an ex vivo assay was examined. Generally, germ tubes appeared randomly adhered to the tissues examined and binding was unaffected by immunodeficiency induced by treatment with cyclophosphamide and cortisone acetate. Adherence was somewhat reduced in spleen and kidney sections or increased in liver sections and unchanged in lymph node sections from treated mice compared to sections from control animals. Scanning electron micrographs showed organisms appeared to be loosely or tightly bound to the surface or partially embedded in spleen sections from both control and treated mice. These observations suggested that qualitative and quantitative difference in adhesion of germ tubes to various tissues may contribute little to the susceptibility of the immunodeficient animal to candidal infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock 79430, USA.
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Vespa
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: López-Ribot
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Chaffin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000276:immunology*; D003348:Cortisone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000502:physiology; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D003348:Cortisone