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Candida albicans is a potent activator of the complement system. The objective of this study was to characterize factors that influence the kinetics for activation of C3 and binding of C3 fragments to C. albicans. Factors that were examined included the surface properties of the yeast and contributions of the classical and alternative complement pathways. The results showed that incubation of hydrophobic, hydrophilic, or germinating yeast cells in normal human serum (NHS) containing radiolabeled C3 led to immediate accumulation of C3 on all three cell types, although the rate of accumulation of C3 on germinating cells was lower. An examination of the sites for early C3 binding showed that classical pathway initiation led to immediate, synchronous binding over the entire cell surface. A blockade of the classical pathway by absorption of putative classical pathway initiators or by chelation of calcium limited activation to the alternative pathway. Binding of C3 solely via the alternative pathway was characterized by a significant lag in the initial binding kinetics. In the absence of classical pathway initiation, the early cellular sites for C3 binding appeared as random, asynchronous foci of C3 that appeared to expand with time. The factor(s) mediating rapid deposition of C3 that was characteristic of the classical pathway initiation was reciprocally cross-absorbed by hydrophilic and hydrophobic C. albicans but was not removed by absorption of NHS with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, encapsulated Cryptococcus neoformans, or nonencapsulated C. neoformans. Delayed binding of C3 produced by absorption of serum was largely reversed by addition to the absorbed serum of immunoglobulin G isolated from NHS, indicating a significant role for a naturally occurring anti-C. albicans immunoglobulin C. in classical pathway initiation.

Passive immunization with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific for the major capsular polysaccharide of Cryptococcus neoformans alters the course of murine cryptococcosis. During studies of passive immunization for treatment of murine cryptococcosis, we noted the occurrence of an acute, lethal toxicity. Toxicity was characterized by scratching, lethargy, respiratory distress, collapse, and death within 20 to 60 min after injection of antibody. The toxic effect was observed only in mice with a cryptococcal infection and was reduced or absent in the early and late stages of disease. The clinical course and histopathology were consistent with those for shock. There was considerable variation between mouse strains in susceptibility to toxicity. Swiss Webster mice from the Charles River colony were most susceptible, followed by C3H/He, BALB/c, and C57BL/6 mice. DBA/2 mice and Swiss Webster mice from the Simonsen colony were resistant. Acute toxicity was mimicked by injection of preformed complexes of MAb and purified polysaccharide. The toxic effect was also produced by injection of MAbs into mice that were preloaded with polysaccharide. The toxic effect was not blocked by treatment of mice with chloropheniramine or anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha antibodies or by depletion of complement components via pretreatment with cobra venom factor. Toxicity was reduced by treatment of mice with high doses of epinephrine, dexamethasone, or chlorpromazine. Finally, the toxic effect was completely blocked by treatment of mice with the platelet-activating factor antagonist WEB 2170 BS or by pretreatment of mice with the liposome-encapsulated drug dichloromethylene diphosphonate, a procedure which depletes macrophages from the spleen and liver.

The extracellular polysaccharide capsule of Cryptococcus neoformans is a well-recognized virulence factor. Strain 602 is an acapsular clinical isolate of unknown serotype which has been widely used in studies of virulence and host-parasite interactions. In previous studies, strain 602 was compared with genetically unrelated strains of various serotypes because the wild-type equivalent of strain 602 was not available. We created an encapsulated strain, TYCC38-602, by transforming strain 602 with the CAP64 gene which was isolated from a serotype D strain. Serological tests and chemical analysis of the major polysaccharide capsule of TYCC38-602 indicated that strain 602 was originally derived from a serotype A strain. Restoration of the ability to produce a capsule enabled strain 602 to cause fatal infection in mice, whereas the acapsular strain 602 remained avirulent. Capsule-restored yeast cells of strain 602 activated the human complement system and bound C3 fragments in a manner that is characteristic of encapsulated cryptococci. In addition, the capsule in TYCC38-602 masked the ability of the organism to induce tumor necrosis factor alpha and subsequent nitric oxide synthase production in primed macrophage-like cells. These results indicate that the lack of capsule in strain 602 is the reason for its inability to cause fatal infection. Moreover, the acapsular phenotype accounts for differences in various biological activities of strain 602 compared to encapsulated strains. The results also indicate that the gene product of CAP64 does not contribute to serotype specificity of capsules in C. neoformans.

Passive immunization with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific for the major capsular polysaccharide of Cryptococcus neoformans alters the course of murine cryptococcosis. During studies of passive immunization for treatment of murine cryptococcosis, we noted the occurrence of an acute, lethal toxicity. Toxicity was characterized by scratching, lethargy, respiratory distress, collapse, and death within 20 to 60 min after injection of antibody. The toxic effect was observed only in mice with a cryptococcal infection and was reduced or absent in the early and late stages of disease. The clinical course and histopathology were consistent with those for shock. There was considerable variation between mouse strains in susceptibility to toxicity. Swiss Webster mice from the Charles River colony were most susceptible, followed by C3H/He, BALB/c, and C57BL/6 mice. DBA/2 mice and Swiss Webster mice from the Simonsen colony were resistant. Acute toxicity was mimicked by injection of preformed complexes of MAb and purified polysaccharide. The toxic effect was also produced by injection of MAbs into mice that were preloaded with polysaccharide. The toxic effect was not blocked by treatment of mice with chloropheniramine or anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha antibodies or by depletion of complement components via pretreatment with cobra venom factor. Toxicity was reduced by treatment of mice with high doses of epinephrine, dexamethasone, or chlorpromazine. Finally, the toxic effect was completely blocked by treatment of mice with the platelet-activating factor antagonist WEB 2170 BS or by pretreatment of mice with the liposome-encapsulated drug dichloromethylene diphosphonate, a procedure which depletes macrophages from the spleen and liver.

The extracellular polysaccharide capsule of Cryptococcus neoformans is a well-recognized virulence factor. Strain 602 is an acapsular clinical isolate of unknown serotype which has been widely used in studies of virulence and host-parasite interactions. In previous studies, strain 602 was compared with genetically unrelated strains of various serotypes because the wild-type equivalent of strain 602 was not available. We created an encapsulated strain, TYCC38-602, by transforming strain 602 with the CAP64 gene which was isolated from a serotype D strain. Serological tests and chemical analysis of the major polysaccharide capsule of TYCC38-602 indicated that strain 602 was originally derived from a serotype A strain. Restoration of the ability to produce a capsule enabled strain 602 to cause fatal infection in mice, whereas the acapsular strain 602 remained avirulent. Capsule-restored yeast cells of strain 602 activated the human complement system and bound C3 fragments in a manner that is characteristic of encapsulated cryptococci. In addition, the capsule in TYCC38-602 masked the ability of the organism to induce tumor necrosis factor alpha and subsequent nitric oxide synthase production in primed macrophage-like cells. These results indicate that the lack of capsule in strain 602 is the reason for its inability to cause fatal infection. Moreover, the acapsular phenotype accounts for differences in various biological activities of strain 602 compared to encapsulated strains. The results also indicate that the gene product of CAP64 does not contribute to serotype specificity of capsules in C. neoformans.

Candida albicans is a potent activator of the complement system. The objective of this study was to characterize factors that influence the kinetics for activation of C3 and binding of C3 fragments to C. albicans. Factors that were examined included the surface properties of the yeast and contributions of the classical and alternative complement pathways. The results showed that incubation of hydrophobic, hydrophilic, or germinating yeast cells in normal human serum (NHS) containing radiolabeled C3 led to immediate accumulation of C3 on all three cell types, although the rate of accumulation of C3 on germinating cells was lower. An examination of the sites for early C3 binding showed that classical pathway initiation led to immediate, synchronous binding over the entire cell surface. A blockade of the classical pathway by absorption of putative classical pathway initiators or by chelation of calcium limited activation to the alternative pathway. Binding of C3 solely via the alternative pathway was characterized by a significant lag in the initial binding kinetics. In the absence of classical pathway initiation, the early cellular sites for C3 binding appeared as random, asynchronous foci of C3 that appeared to expand with time. The factor(s) mediating rapid deposition of C3 that was characteristic of the classical pathway initiation was reciprocally cross-absorbed by hydrophilic and hydrophobic C. albicans but was not removed by absorption of NHS with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, encapsulated Cryptococcus neoformans, or nonencapsulated C. neoformans. Delayed binding of C3 produced by absorption of serum was largely reversed by addition to the absorbed serum of immunoglobulin G isolated from NHS, indicating a significant role for a naturally occurring anti-C. albicans immunoglobulin C. in classical pathway initiation.