CANDIDIASIS IN INTERFERON-GAMMA KNOCKOUT (IFN-GAMMA(- -)) MICE/

Germ-free C57BL/6 x 129 interferon-gamma knockout (IFN-gamma(-/-)) mic e and their immunocompetent (+/-, +/+) counterparts were colonized wit h a pure culture of Candida albicans to assess their natural susceptib ility to mucosal and systemic candidiasis of endogenous origin. Coloni zation with a pure culture of C. albicans was not lethal for adult or neonatal IFN-gamma(-/-) gnotobiotic mice over the 15-week study. The I FN-gamma(-/-) mice were more susceptible to gastric (cardia-antrum sec tion), anorectal, and acute systemic (intravenous challenge) candidias is than immunocompetent controls, and some IFN-gamma(-/-) mice develop ed intestinal adenomas after colonization with C. albicans. The enhanc ed susceptibility of IFN-gamma(-/-) mice, compared with immunocompeten t controls, may be associated with a poor proliferative response of sp leen cells to C. albicans antigens and a T helper 2 (IgG1) serum antib ody response to C. albicans antigens. Thus, IFN-gamma is important for murine resistance to gastric, anorectal, and acute systemic candidias is.