Experimental vaccination with Candida albicans ribosomes in cyclophosphamide-treated animals.

A study was carried out to determine whether protection against experimental systemic candidiasis can be induced by vaccination with Candida albicans ribosomes in animals compromised by cyclophosphamide (CY) treatment. ICR mice treated with CY showed a reduction in the number of leukocytes and a decrease in spleen and body weights. CY-treated mice were more susceptible to intraperitoneal (IP) or intravenous (IV) challenge with live C. albicans than the untreated animals. Vaccination of CY-treated mice with C. albicans ribosomes, with or without addition of incomplete Freund's adjuvant, led to a partial protection against a lethal IP or IV challenge with live yeasts. These results indicate the possible effectiveness of ribosomal vaccination in protecting the compromised host against experimental candidiasis.