EXPRESSION OF SURFACE HYDROPHOBIC PROTEINS BY CANDIDA-ALBICANS IN-VIVO

Candida albicans modulates cell surface hydrophobicity during growth a nd morphogenesis in vitro. To determine if surface hydrophobicity is e xpressed during pathogenesis, we generated a polyclonal antiserum agai nst yeast hydrophobic proteins. The antiserum was then used for indire ct immunofluorescence analysis of tissues from mice colonized and chro nically infected with C. albicans. Results demonstrated that yeast hyd rophobic proteins are exposed on fungal cells present in host tissues. The polyclonal antiserum distinguished between hydrophobic and hydrop hilic cell surfaces in vitro and gave similar staining patterns and in tensities for C. albicans cells in vivo. Of the yeast forms present wi thin tissue lesions, approximately half exhibited moderate to intense immunofluorescence with the antiserum. Immunoblot analysis indicated t hat antigens recognized by the antiserum are predominantly low-molecul ar-mass hydrophobic proteins that are expressed by different C. albica ns isolates and are expressed regardless of growth temperature. Taken together, the immunofluorescence and immunoblot analyses of antigens i ndicate that C. albicans displays surface hydrophobic proteins during pathogenesis and these proteins are available for hydrophobic interact ions with host tissues. The effect of hydrophobic protein exposure on the virulence of C. albicans is discussed.