Open AccessExpression and quantification of the iC3b‐binding protein in different Candida albicans strains and their morphological stages
Author(s) -
Bujdáková Helena,
Würzner Reinhard,
Klobušický Milan,
Dierich Manfred P
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.1997.tb01040.x
Subject(s) - ic3b , germ tube , biology , mycelium , virulence , candida albicans , microbiology and biotechnology , binding protein , fungal protein , yeast , complement system , corpus albicans , biochemistry , antibody , saccharomyces cerevisiae , gene , immunology , botany
Expression and quantification of the iC3b‐binding protein in yeast, germ‐tube, and mycelial forms of several Candida albicans strains were studied. Ten isolates were obtained from patients with recurrent vaginal candidosis. The germ‐tubes generated at 37°C and the mycelial forms of all strains grown at 30°C, as well as most of the mycelial forms grown at 37°C, were able to bind complement‐coated sheep erythrocytes (EAiC3b). ELISA results revealed that a decrease in the binding of EAiC3b by the mycelial form of strains CBS 5982 and K10 correlated with a decrease of the expression of the iC3b‐binding protein, detected by cross‐reaction with the monoclonal antibody OKM1, recognising the alpha chain of human CR3. Expression of the iC3b‐binding protein in other strains, binding EAiC3b, was higher in the mycelial form or very similar to that of germ‐tubes. The dependence of the expression of the iC3b‐binding protein on the morphological stages of individual C. albicans isolates suggests a possible association with the virulence of these strains.