Murine defense mechanism against Candida albicans infection. I. Collaboration of cell-mediated and humoral immunities in protection against systemic C. albicans infection.

Mice immunized with viable C. albicans cells demonstrated a high incidence of cell-mediated and a low incidence of humoral immune response. There was good agreement between the final survival rate of C. albicans infected mice and the rate of simultaneous cell-mediated and humoral immune response acquisition. Immunized mice with positive delayed hypersensitivity (DTH) against C. albicans crude antigen showed significant protection against intravenous challenge with C. albicans. Furthermore, the transfer of immunoglobulins from rabbit anti-C. albicans serum to DTH-positive mice enhanced protection, while it did not protect control mice against a subsequent challenge with C. albicans. These results suggest that cell-mediated immunity plays a major role and humoral immunity a side role in the defense mechanism(s) of C. albicans infected mice.