Pulmonary Clearance of Candida albicans in Neutropenic Mice

• Published in: The Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 149; no. 6; p. 1020
• Main Authors: Nugent, Kenneth M., Onofrio, John M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The University of Chicago Press 01.06.1984; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Agranulocytosis - complications; Animals; Candida albicans; Candida albicans - growth & development; Candidiasis - complications; Candidiasis - microbiology; Catheters; Data Forum; Dosage; Human resources; Inoculation; Kidney - microbiology; Lung - microbiology; Lungs; Mechlorethamine; Mice; Neutropenia; Neutropenia - chemically induced; Neutropenia - complications; Neutropenia - microbiology; Neutrophils; Nitrogen
• ISSN: 0022-1899; 1537-6613
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/149.6.1020

The authors have recently demonstrated that murine host-defense responses efficiently eliminate C. albicans from the lower respiratory tract and that this process stimulates a significant neutrophil influx into bronchoalveolar spaces. In summary, neutropenia delayed the clearance of C. albicans from the murine lung and allowed dissemination from the lower respiratory tract to other systemic tissues. This dissemination may reflect the expression of increased candidal virulence during the delayed clearance or may reflect nitrogen mustard-induced changes in the pulmonary epithelial barriers. These results suggest that lower-respiratory-tract colonization following aspiration may serve as a source for systemic candidiasis.