Saccharomyces as a vaccine against systemic candidiasis.
We have shown heat-killed Saccharomyces (HKY) is a protective vaccine against aspergillosis and coccidioidomycosis. To test the hypothesis that the efficacy of HKY- induced protection may be due to the cross-reactive antigens in the cell walls of the different fungi, we studied the effect of HKY against systemic candidiasis. Male CD-1 mice were given different regimens of HKY subcutaneously prior to intravenous challenge with Candida albicans. Compared to PBS controls, the administration of HKY (6 × 10(7)) 3, 4 or 6 times prolonged survival (all P < 0.05) and reduced fungal load in the kidney (all P < 0.05). An HKY dose of 1.2 × 10(8) given 4 times prolonged survival (P = 0.02), but showed dose-limiting toxicity. HKY given by an oral route, or by a subcutaneous route with alum as an adjuvant, did not improve survival. Overall, we found that HKY protects mice from infection by Candida albicans in a dose-and regimen-dependent manner. To understand the protection induced by HKY against different fungal species, additional studies of epitope mapping are warranted.
California Institute for Medical Research, San Jose, CA 95128, USA.
Min
M
Liu
Karl V
KV
Clemons
Maria E
ME
Johansen
Marife
M
Martinez
Vicky
V
Chen
David A
DA
Stevens
D000818:Animals; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000276:immunology; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000276:immunology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000276:immunology*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte / Q000276:immunology; D005657:Fungal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007110:Immunity, Active; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D012440:Saccharomyces / Q000276:immunology*; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology
D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D018985:Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte; D005657:Fungal Vaccines; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated