Adherence of Candida albicans to tissues from mice with genetic immunodeficiencies

Effect of thermal injury on the adherence of Candida albicans to murine splenic tissue

In a mouse model of thermal injury, an increase in burn size produced a decrease in the ratio of Candida albicans cells adherent to the marginal zone to those adherent to the white pulp of the spleen, an increase in the number of Candida cells in the circulation and in the kidneys, and an increase in mortality.

Adherence of germ tubes of Candida albicans to tissues from immunocompromised mice

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.

Murine tissues exposed to cytotoxic drugs display altered patterns of Candida albicans adhesion

An ex vivo adhesion assay was used to examine the binding of Candida albicans yeast cells to tissues from mice treated with cytotoxic drugs such as lipopolysaccharide and the clinically used anticancer drugs doxorubicin, cisplatin, and vincristine. No major differences were observed in binding of the fungal cells to liver and kidney tissues from treated or untreated animals. All drug-treated spleens displayed altered patterns of C. albicans adhesion compared with the control group, with yeast cells bound not only to the marginal zone but also to the white and red pulp. Immunostaining for macrophages, which are proposed as the site of normal adhesion, showed no apparent differences between the control and the experimental spleens that could account for the change in adhesion patterns. Scanning electron microscopy images suggested that yeast binding to the white pulp of treated tissue is mediated through fibers, perhaps extracellular matrix components exposed as result of the cytotoxic treatment. Exposure of new attachment sites for C. albicans in treated tissues may facilitate initiation of infection.