[The roles of proteinase production and germ tube formation in the invasion of Candida albicans into newborn mouse skin].

The pathogenic factors of Candida albicans involved in invasion of the skin were studied. Strains of C. albicans differing in their abilities to secrete proteinase in vitro and to produce germ tube were inoculated onto the skin surface of newborn mice, and the invasion of the yeast cells into the horny layer was examined by histological techniques. The strains capable of producing germ tubes could penetrate into the skin, but those incapable of germ tube formation could not. The penetration of the yeast cells into the skin was independent of the ability to secrete proteinase, but, once penetrated, Candida cells from the proteinase-producing strains proliferated more profusely than those of proteinase-deficient ones. The results suggested that the invasion of C. albicans into the skin consisted of two processes; penetration and proliferation of the yeast cells in the tissue. The former might depend on the ability of germ tube formation and the latter on the secretion of proteinase.