Systemic candidiasis in mice immunized with Candida albicans ribosomes

Abstract

In view of our previous findings that vaccination of mice with Candida albicans ribosomes protects them against experimental systemic candidiasis, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of this vaccination on the course of infection in immunized animals. Since the kidney is the maj or target in systemic candidal infection, we concentrated in this research on studying the histopathology and determining quantitatively the candidal colonization of this organ. The experiments were carried out at various time intervals after intravenous inoculation with live C. albicans. The colonization of kidneys in immunized mice was markedly lower than that in controls. The maximal difference in renal colonization between immunized and non immunized animals was observed when relatively low challenge doses were used. The inhibition of candidal multiplication in immunized mice seemed to be correlated to their increased resistance against lethal challenge, as expressed by a significantly higher survival rate. Histopathological changes and fungal elements were found in kidneys of control mice as early as 20 h post infection, while the kidneys of immunized mice did not seem affected by the disease. Moreover, even 3 days post infection, the kidneys of vaccinated animals still seemed normal. In conclusion, apparently the ribosomal vaccination leads to diminished colonization of the major site of infection in candidiasis, thus affording protection to the immunized animals against these infections.