RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CANDIDA-ALBICANS EPIDERMOLYTIC PROTEINASE ACTIVITY AND VIRULENCE IN MICE

Five strains of Candida albicans with previously characterized epiderm olytic acid proteinase activity were evaluated for virulence following intravenous (IV) injection in mice. Increased proteinase activity was associated with increased virulence in female, NYLAR mice receiving 1 0(6) cells IV. Mean mortality times (1.25, 2.0, 2.0, 4.25 and 19.6 day s, in groups of 20 mice for each of the five strains) correlated direc tly with degree of proteinase activity. Three of the strains were sele cted for additional in vivo study and the association between increase d proteinase activity and increased mortality rates was confirmed in d ose-response studies in two additional strains of mice. The mean survi val times appeared to be independent of fungal growth rate in vitro. T hese results support the positive correlation between proteinase activ ity and virulence.