Macrophage and lymphocyte contributions in resistance of Candida albicans infections.

Model in vivo and in vitro experimental systems have been used to study the efficacy of specific and nonspecific immunization against Candida albicans infection induced in mice. Experiments were designed to compare the extent of resistance in specificity immunized, endotoxin treated and saline treated animals. In vitro phagocytic and postphagocytic killing (cytopepsis) of macrophages or lymphocyte-macrophage combinations from such animals were determined. In the in vitro experiments the macrophage systems destroyed the yeast cells more rapidly than did the lymphocyte-macrophage combinations. Since equivalent numbers of yeast cells were phagocytized, the differences observed were a function of cytopepsis of the organisms.