Assessment of a mouse model of neutropenia and the effect of an anti-candidiasis monoclonal antibody in these animals.

As previously reported, monoclonal antibody (MAb) B6.1 increases resistance to hematogenous disseminated candidiasis in normal and SCID mice. In this study, MAb B6.1 was examined in a mouse model of neutropenia. The neutropenia was induced for a short period of time by a single dose of the anti-neutrophil antibody, MAb RB6-8C5, or for a protracted period by doses of MAb RB6-8C5 every other day. At low doses (< or = 25 microg/mouse), neutrophils were primarily affected, but at high doses (> or = 50 microg/mouse), lymphocytes were also depleted. Mice given either single or multiple doses of MAb RB6-8C5 were more resistant to experimental hematogenous disseminated candidiasis if they received MAb B6.1 before and after challenge with Candida albicans yeast cells intravenously. These results show the utility of MAb RB6-8C5 for induction of a protracted neutropenia in mice and demonstrate that MAb B6.1 can enhance resistance against candidiasis under neutropenic conditions.