The use of 7-amino-actinomycin D in the analysis of Candida albicans phagocytosis and opsonization

We describe the use of 7-amino-actinomycin D (7AAD) to measure phagocytosis and the opsonizing capacity of serum. Heat-inactivated Candida albicans wa s previously stained with 7AAD and incubated with resident peritoneal macro phages. The samples were analyzed by flow cytometry and phagocytic cells we re identified by their bright red fluorescence. This is a rapid, reproducib le and reliable one-step procedure and provides a means of evaluating low l evels of phagocytosis. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.