ASSESSMENT OF A MOUSE MODEL OF NEUTROPENIA AND THE EFFECT OF AN ANTI-CANDIDIASIS MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY IN THESE ANIMALS

As previously reported, monoclonal antibody (MAb) B6.1 increases resis tance to hematogenous disseminated candidiasis in normal and SCID mice . In this study, MAb B6.1 was examined in a mouse model of neutropenia . The neutropenia was induced for a short period of time by a single d ose of the anti-neutrophil antibody, MAb RB6-8C5, or for a protracted period by doses of MAb RB6-8C5 every other day. At low doses (less tha n or equal to 25 mu g/mouse), neutrophils were primarily affected, but at high doses (greater than or equal to 50 mu g/mouse), lymphocytes w ere also depleted. Mice given either single or multiple doses of MAb R B6-8C5 were more resistant to experimental hematogenous disseminated c andidiasis if they received MAb B6.1 before and after challenge with C andida albicans yeast cells intravenously. These results show the util ity of MAb RB6-8C5 for induction of a protracted neutropenia in mice a nd demonstrate that MAb B6.1 can enhance resistance against candidiasi s under neutropenic conditions.