ALVEOLAR MACROPHAGE REACTION TO CANDIDA SPECIES

Candida species are increasingly important fungal pathogens. The react ion of rat-alveolar macrophages (AM) to Candida albicans was compared with that to C. glabrata and C. krusei. Phagocytosis of C. glabrata wa s similar to that of C. albicans, but significantly slower for C. krus ei due to reduced attachment. After opsonization, attachment of C. alb icans and C. krusei to AM was significantly increased and there was no significant difference between the two species. The oxidative metabol ism of AM with candida species was two to three times higher than that of the resting AM both during and 24 h after the phagocytosis. All th ree species showed a considerable fraction (5-10%) of phagolysosomes w ith pH greater than or equal to 6.5 after 3 h and a smaller percentage (1%) after 24 h.