EVIDENCE THAT 2 INDEPENDENT HOST GENES INFLUENCE THE SEVERITY OF TISSUE-DAMAGE AND SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ACUTE PYELONEPHRITIS IN MURINE SYSTEMIC CANDIDIASIS

Tissue damage in the kidney and brain after systemic infection with Ca ndida albicans was examined in recombinant inbred strains (AKXL) deriv ed from AKR and C57/L progenitors. Nine of the 15 strains showed mild (C57/L-like) tissue damage. Of the remainder, two strains developed le sions comparable to the AKR parental strain, whereas four exhibited a much move severe pattern of tissue damage. This was characterized by p ronounced mycelial growth in the brain, and gross oedema of the kidney , with extensive fungal colonization and marked tissue destruction. Th e presence of the null allele of the haemolytic complement gene (Hc) m ay be necessary but not sufficient, for the expression of the very sev ere lesions. The results were interpreted as reflecting the actions of two independent genes, which have been designated Carg1 and Carg2 (Ca ndida albicans resistance genes 1 and 2). (C) 1997 Academic Press Limi ted.