Immunoglobulins G could prevent adherence of Candida albicans to polystyrene and extracellular matrix components

Immunocompromised patients are at high risk of developing Candida infections. Although cell-mediated immunity is generally believed to play the main role in defence against fungi, antibodies could also be effective in immune defence by different mechanisms of action. The adherence capacity of four strains of Candida albicans to polystyrene and to some extracellular matrix components was investigated after incubation of the yeasts with non-specific and specific anti-C. albicans IgG. Experiments were carried out using a colorimetric method based upon the reduction of XTT tetrazolium (2,3-bis[2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl]-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide) by mitochondrially active blastospores in the presence of menadione. Incubation of the yeasts with IgG, specific or not, caused a decrease in the capacity for adherence to the surfaces studied. There was no significant effect of the specificity of the tested antibodies on the reduction of adherence capacity. In conclusion, total IgG could play a role in blocking the binding of C. albicans to host and medical device surfaces. These results suggest that regular survey of levels of total IgG in patients suffering from severe hypogammaglobulinaemia could be of interest for the prevention of systemic candidiasis.