Immunological Response of Albino Rats Immunized With Heat-Killed Candida Albicans for the Possible Prevention of Candidemia

Ahmad Ibrahim; Yahaya  Abdullahi Umar; Ahmed  Babangida Suleiman

Ahmad Ibrahim Department of Biological Sciences, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna
Yahaya Abdullahi Umar Department of Biological Sciences, Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna
Ahmed Babangida Suleiman Department of Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

Keywords: Candida albicans, Candidaisis, Delayed-type hypersensitivity

Abstract

The treatments of systemic candidiasis in humans with the current antifungal drugs of choice such as azole derivatives and amphotericin B have raised issues associated with toxicity, resistance, high morbidity, socioeconomic impact, and low quality of life. The immunogenic property of heat-killed C. albicans to elicit immunological response in the possible prevention of the candidiasis was explored. At baseline, white blood cell differentials and antibody titres were determined after acclimatization. The experimental group was immunized on two occasions with 10⁶cells/ml of heat-killed C. albicans and subsequently challenged along with the positive control with 10⁶ viable C. albicans while the Negative control received normal saline during the same period of the study. These rats were bled for the determination of antibody titres and white blood cell differentials. Also, rats from the three groups were observed for four weeks for survival after challenge to determine the protective effect of heat-killed C. albicans. The results revealed that heat killed C. albicans stimulated a significant amount of antibodies and WBC differentials that were immunoprotective. We also found that all immunized rats survived challenge with 10⁶ viable cells while the kidneys of the dead unimmunized rats showed a positive growth of C. albicans. Thus, heat killed C. albicans could provide significant protection.

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