In vitro effect of fibrinogen on Candida albicans germ tube formation

Pseudohyphae formation by Candida albicans blastoconidia, as seen in vagina l smears, is a phenotypical change commonly assumed to mean fungal invasive ness, i.e. not mere colonization. C. albicans forms germ tubes in vitro in the presence of serum. In our search for inhibitory components of germ tube formation, we decided to study fibrinogen, The inhibition of germ tube for mation by clinical isolates of C. albicans was evaluated iu the presence of serial concentrations of fraction I, type TV and fraction I, type Is of fi brinogen from bovine plasma. Fibrinogen showed a dose-dependent, pH-indepen dent inhibitory effect on the germ tube formation by C. albicans.