Cytolytic plasma factor in experimental coccidioidomycosis.

Peripheral blood leukocytes from guinea pigs infected with Coccidioides immitis 5 weeks previously were lysed significantly when incubated at 37 C for 3.5 hr with a concentrated C. immitis culture filtrate, but not with a concentrated Aspergillus fumigatus or Blastomyces dermatitidis culture filtrate. Mononuclear leukocytes and presumably granulocytes were both lysed. Characterization of the factor responsible for this leukocytolysis reaction revealed that it was contained in plasma and serum but not in leukocytes from infected guinea pigs. It was complement-dependent, active after heating at 56 C, and stable after storage at -20 C for as long as 14 months.