Phagocytosis, oxidative burst, and killing of Candida dubliniensis and Candida albicans by human neutrophils

Candida dubliniensis is a phylogenetically closely related species to Candi da albicans. So far virtually nothing is known about the virulence factors of C. dubliniensis. Cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) plays a critical role in adhesion of microorganisms to phagocytic cells, hydrophobic cells of C. albicans have been reported to be less sensitive to phagocytic killing tha n hydrophilic cells. C. dubliniensis displays CSH at 37 degrees C in contra st to C. albicans. To elucidate this issue, we determined levels of phagocy tosis, oxidative burst and killing by human neutrophils of C. dubliniensis (n = 10) compared to C. albicans (n =10) both cultured at 37 degrees C. Obt ained test results revealed no statistically significant differences betwee n these two yeast species for the level of phagocytosis (77.3 vs. 76.2% aft er 60 min), evoked oxidative burst (64.5 vs. 67.3% after 30 min) and killin g (72.7 vs. 73.1% after 240 min). Therefore: human neutrophils can be consi dered to be equally efficient against these two yeast species. (C) 2000 Fed eration of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Scienc e B.V. All rights reserved.