[Electron microscopic presentation of immune reactions on Candida cells: asteroid bodies in Candida albicans from the urine of nephritis patients].

Candida albicans cells from the urine of two nephritis patients were concentrated and incubated with ferritin-labeled antihuman grammaglobulin (either anti-IgA, anti-IgG, or anti-IgM). Electron microscopy showed the electron-transparent yeast cell wall to be surrounded by an electron-dense capsule-like substance of remarkable volume. This must be regarded as an antigen-antibody precipitate corresponding to the "asteroid body" of previous authors. The antibodies involved in the formation of the precipitate are mainly those of the IgA and IgG classes. Considering the results of previous authors, the following definition is proposed: "Asteroid Bodies" are light microscopically visible antigen-antibody precipitates on the cell wall of fungi parasitic condition.