Assessment of Germ Tube Dispersion Activity of Serum from Experimental Candidiasis: a New Procedure for Serodiagnosis

Abstract

Germ tubes of Candida albicans and C. stellatoidea clump in normal serum but disperse in serum from animals infected with either species of Candida. A new procedure for the assessment of grades of germ tube dispersion activity of serum is presented; this procedure is to count the number of freely dispersed germ tubes in test serum into which a definite number of yeast-type C. albicans has been inoculated. The relationship between the serum activity and macroscopic lesions caused by candidal infection is observed, indicating the possibility of applying the phenomenon to the serodiagnosis of deep-seated candidiasis. The specificity and sensitivity of the test are also examined.

Immunity to Candida albicans.

“…The presence in human serum of a material (not an immunoglobulin) with the capacity to clump C. albicans has been reported by numerous investigators. Chilgren et al 34, Smith and Louria (192), and Katsura and Uesaka (96) have all described such an activity, and the possibility exists that each of these materials may actually represent the substance with lethal activity described by Louria and Brayton (126). Chilgren et al (34) have reported evidence which indicates that the clumping activity of this factor may be inhibited when mixed with specific anti-Candida antibody (IgG).…”

Umbelliferyl-labeled galactosaminide as an aid in identification of Candida albicans

“…This test is not specific for C. albicans, since C. stellatoidea forms similar filaments; however, recent taxonomic literature recognizes C. stellatoidea as a synonym of C. albicans (7). Reports indicate that C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, and Cryptococcus gastricus also produce structures which resemble germ tubes (4)(5)(6)8). Moreover, 5% of routine isolates of C. albicans have recently been shown to be germ tube negative (14).…”

Étude mycologique comparée de Candida stellatoidea et C. albicans

“…Mais il est très difficile à la lecture de ces documents d'atteindre une conviction quant à l'existence réelle de deux entités dis tinctes. En effet, les arguments en faveur de la différenciation des deux espèces sont subtils, parfois contradictoires quand il s'agit par exemple de la production de chlamy dospores (12,13,18,21,32), de celle des tubes germinatifs (12,20) ou de la virulence expérimentale (11,14,17,18). Le fait qu'on isole rarement des souches qui soient déterminées C. stellatoidea ajoute encore un élément d'incertitude sur la validité de cette espèce.…”