Although C. albicans displays a variety of virulence factors, the ability to adhere to host tissues is considered essential in the early stages of colonization. We prepared anti-C. albicans antibodies in chicken egg yolk (anti-CA IgY) and investigated its effectiveness on the adherence capacity of C. albicans to epithelial cells. In this study, we examined the adherence capacity of C. albicans to FaDu (human pharynx carcinoma) cells after incubation of C. albicans with anti-CA IgY. Results showed that the adherence capacity of C. albicans was significantly reduced after incubation with anti-CA IgY (P≤0.005). Increasing of anti-CA IgY concentration gradually increased the adhesion inhibition effect. This effect might be due to blocking the binding of C. albicans to the host cells. Furthermore, we investigated the protective efficacy of anti-CA IgY in experimentally induced oral candidiasis in immunosuppressed mice. Anti-CA IgY was administrated in the oral cavity twice a day starting one day before the infection. The tongue lesions were monitored and the CFUs of C. albicans in tongue, lungs, kidneys, and intestine were counted. Results showed that tongue lesion scores and CFUs of C. albicans in mice organs were significantly reduced. These results indicate that anti-CA IgY reduces the in-vitro adherence capacity and has a protective effect in experimentally infected mice. In conclusion, anti-CA IgY might be considered as a prophylactic immunotherapy or possibly an adjunct to antifungal therapy. |
