Characterization of Candida albicans adherence to human vaginal epithelial cells in vitro

Abstract

Certain environmental, physical and biochemical aspects of C. albicans adherence to human vaginal epithelial cells were characterized by using an in vitro radiometric adherence assay. Blastospores harvested from cultures grown at 25.degree. C adhered to vaginal epithelial cells in significantly greater numbers than did blastospores isolated from cultures grown at 37.degree. C. C. albicans viability was not essential for adherence; severe methods used to kill the blastospores did reduce their attachment. The addition of NaCl, divalent cations, sugars, mannan or mannoprotein to the assay had no effect on attachment. Pretreatment of the blastospores with detergents, salts, urea, glycosidases, lipase, or pepsin did not affect adherence; treatment with reducing agents or 5 proteolytic enzymes did render C. albicans nonadherent. Cell wall fragments prepared form C. albicans, but not from C. albicans, but not from C. krusei, adhered to vaginal epithelial cells. Loss of adherence after the cell walls were treated with .alpha.-mannosidase or papain suggests that cell wall mannoprotein is an essential component of the C. albicans adhesin.