INFLUENCE OF THE BCG LOCUS ON MACROPHAGE RESPONSE TO THE DIMORPHIC FUNGUS CANDIDA-ALBICANS

The Bcg/Tty/Lsh gene (candidate Nramp) controls natural resistance to several parasites, such as Mycobacterium bovis, Leishmania donovani, a nd Salmonella typhimurium. Using two macrophage (M phi) cell lines (B1 0R and B10S) derived from mouse strains congenic at Beg, we found that M phi s from resistant mice (B10R M phi s) act more effectively again st the two morphogenetic forms of the dimorphic fungus Candida albican s compared with M phi s from susceptible mice (B10S M phi s). Moreover , when assessed for tumor necrosis factor secretion in response to the hyphal form of C. albicans, B10R M phi s are significantly more effec tive at expressing this secretory function than are B10S M phi s, clos ely resembling the trend of response to lipopolysaccharide. Overall, t hese results provide insight into the influence of the Beg locus on th e M phi response to C. albicans.