Opsonic effect of C-reactive protein on phagocytosis and intracellular killing of virulent and attenuated strains of Candida albicans by human neutrophils. |
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Authors: | M D Richardson C A Gray G S Shankland |
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Affiliation: | Department of Dermatology, University of Glasgow, U.K. |
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Abstract: | In the presence of autologous complement, maximal phagocytosis of Candida albicans blastospores of both a virulent and attenuated strain by human neutrophils in a monolayer assay was achieved after 30 min. The proportion of phagocytes containing intracellular blastospores was 33-36% with an average of 1.5 blastospores per phagocyte. In contrast to the attenuated strain of C. albicans, the virulent strain resisted opsonization by C-reactive protein (CRP) and of those blastospores ingested, only 8% were killed. These findings support the concept that CRP may play a protective role in candidosis independent of complement. The fate of strains of different virulence may be a result of differences in CRP receptors or killing mechanisms. |
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