Growth inhibition of Candida albicans in the presence of antiserum elicited in rabbits by mannan-protein conjugate.

Antifungal properties of rabbit antiserum prepared by immunization are reported. The immunization was done by a chemically prepared conjugate consisting of Candida albicans (serotype A) surface mannan and human serum albumin. Addition of rabbit antiserum to D-glucose medium inoculated with C. albicans effectively inhibited its growth. Moreover, C. albicans cells treated with rabbit antiserum revealed the entire loss of viability (expressed as decreased mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity). No growth of treated cells on an agar plate was observed. The results confirmed that the mannan-protein conjugate could be considered as an effective component of perspective vaccine.