Relationship between dimorphism and pathogenicity in candida albicans

  Objective   To study the relation between dimorphism and pathogenicity in candida albicans.

  Methods   Yeast forms and hyphal forms of candida albicans were used respectively to bind to BEC in vitro and the adherence rate of hyphal forms was compared with that of yeast forms.Rabbit anti-human serum was used to neutralize salivary sIgAand ¹²⁵I-sIgA radio immuno-assay was used to check the consistency of salivary sIgA for researching the effect of salivary sIgA on the adhesion of dimorphic candida albicans.Murine peritoneal polymorphonudeated neutrophils(PMN)and macrophages(MΦ)were used to engulf dimorphic candida albicans for researching the englobe of phagocytes to dimophic candida albicans.

  Results   The adherence of hyphal forms of candida albicans to BEC was stronger than that of yeast forms(P < 0.001).Salivary sIgA could inhibit the adherence of two forms ofcandida albicans to BEC(P < 0.005)and it was much easier to inhibit the adherence of yearst forms ofcandida albicans to BEC(P < 0.05).The ability of PMN, MΦ englobing yeast forms ofcandida albicans was more stronger than that of PMN, MΦ englobing hyphal forms of candida albicans(P < 0.01).

  Conclusion   The pathogenicity of hyphal forms was greater than that of yeast forms in candida albicans.