Abstract
A spontaneous, cerulenin-resistant mutant of Candida albicans (strain 4918–10) was found to adhere less readily to human vaginal mucosal cells in vitro than a wild type C. albicans (strain 4918). In a murine model of vaginal infection, strain 4918–10 was found to be less virulent than wild type C. albicans, i.e., the infection rate caused by 4918–10 was only 31% of that observed with wild type, 4918. A chitin-soluble extract (CSE) prepared from 4918 blocked attachment of yeast cells to human vaginal epithelial cells, while CSE from 4918–10 did not significantly reduce the attachment of yeasts to vaginal cells. Both 4918 and 4918–10 produced hyphae in vitro and in vivo, were negative for proteinase production and grew equally well at 28°C and 37°C. The data suggest that adherence to vaginal mucosa may be an important determinant in the pathogenesis of vaginal infection caused by C. albicans.