PROPHYLACTIC EFFECT OF ENTEROCOCCUS-FAECALIS FK-23 PREPARATION ON EXPERIMENTAL CANDIDIASIS IN MICE

The prophylactic effects of heat-killed cells of Enterococcus faecalis FK-23 (FK-23 preparation) on experimental candidiasis were investigat ed in normal and leukopenic mice, In cyclophosphamide-induced leukopen ic mice, oral or intraperitoneal administration of the FK-23 preparati on at a daily dose of 1.25 or 5 mg/mouse for 3 consecutive days prior to Candida albicans infection significantly prolonged survival periods of the infected mice, and decreased viable counts of C. albicans reco vered from their kidneys, In normal mice, the FK-23 preparation admini stered at dosages ranging from 0.63 to 10 mg/mouse/day for 3 consecuti ve days was ineffective, while in leukopenic mice, the FK-23 administe red orally caused a facilitated recovery in the number of white blood cells including neutrophils. Furthermore, intraperitoneal administrati on of the FK-23 preparation into mice augmented the anti-Candida activ ity of immunocompromised peritoneal exudate cells obtained from the an imals. These results suggested the potential usefulness of the FK-23 p reparation as a prophylactic agent for the management of patients with opportunistic fungal infections.