title: Protective role of antimannan and anti-aspartyl proteinase antibodies in an experimental model of Candida albicans vaginitis in rats.
abstract: The role of antibodies (Abs) in the resistance to vaginal infection by Candida albicans was investigated by using a rat vaginitis model. Animals receiving antimannoprotein (anti-MP) and anti-aspartyl proteinase (Sap) Ab-containing vaginal fluids from rats clearing a primary C. albicans infection showed a highly significant level of protection against vaginitis compared to animals given Ab-free vaginal fluid from noninfected rats. Preabsorption of the Ab-containing fluids with either one or both proteins MP and Sap sequentially reduced or abolished, respectively, the level of protection. A degree of protection against vaginitis was also conferred by postinfectious administration of anti-Sap and anti-MP monoclonal antibodies (provided the latter were directed against mannan rather than protein epitopes of MP) and by intravaginal immunization with a highly purified, polysaccharide-free Sap preparation. Postinfectious administration of pepstatin A, a potent Sap inhibitor, greatly accelerated the clearance of C. albicans from rat vagina. No anti-MP or anti-Sap Abs were elicited during a C. albicans vaginal infection of congenitally athymic nude rats. Although they were as able as their euthymic counterparts to clear the primary infection, these animals did not show increased resistance to a rechallenge, demonstrating that induction of anticandidal protection in normal rats was a thymus-dependent Ab response. Overall, our data strengthen the concept that Abs against some defined Candida antigens are relevant in the mechanism of acquired anticandidal protection in vaginitis. The T-cell dependence of this protection may also provide a link between cell-mediated and humoral immunity in vaginal infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology and Medical Mycology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Bernardis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boccanera
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adriani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spreghini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Santoni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cassone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000276:immunology*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / Q000276:immunology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology*; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D008351:Mannans / Q000276:immunology*; D010436:Pepstatins / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011923:Rats, Nude; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D008351:Mannans; D010436:Pepstatins; C014195:Streptomyces pepsin inhibitor; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; C031375:pepstatin