BETA-1,2-LINKED OLIGOMANNOSIDES INHIBIT CANDIDA-ALBICANS BINDING TO MURINE MACROPHAGE

Interaction of Candida albicans with cells of the macrophage lineage w as examined by using heat-killed (HK) and live yeast cells. Laminarin, an analogue of the cell wall beta-glucans, strongly inhibited HK yeas ts adherence to J774 cell line but had no effect on Live yeast binding . Phosphopeptidolmannan (PPM) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae had a limi ted effect on the binding of both HK and live yeasts but significant i nhibition was achieved by the use of C., albicans PPM. The role of bet a-1,2-oligomannosides was examined with regard to their exclusive pres ence within C, albicans PPM, PPM acid labile beta-1,2-oligomannosides or a synthetic beta-1,2-mannotetraose, inhibited yeasts binding in a m aimer comparable to the original PPM, These latter results were confir med by using mouse peritoneal macrophages, thus suggesting a general r ole for beta-1,2-olgomannosides in the adherence of the yeast to the m acrophage membrane.