ENHANCEMENT OF TISSUE INVASION IN MURINE ASPERGILLOSIS BY SYSTEMIC ADMINISTRATION OF SUSPENSIONS OF KILLED CORYNEBACTERIUM-PARVUM

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 83  (3) , 547-555
Abstract
The effect of killed C. parvum vaccine on the course of murine aspergillosis is described. A grid-counting technique was employed to quantitate tissue invasion by Aspergillus nidulans in the brain, heart and kidneys (the target organs) of normal mice and mice treated systemically with killed C. parvum vaccine. Simultaneous treatment of mice with C. parvum and A. nidulans significantly increased the mortality rate, in contrast to treatment of mice with C. parvum prior to or following A. nidulans, which had no significant effect on mortality. Fungal invasion of the tissues of the brain and kidneys was significantly increased in mice pretreated or posttreated with C. parvum, but fungal invasion of the heart was not effected by these treatments. Simultaneous treatment of mice with C. parvum and A. nidulans signficantly increased fungal invasion of the heart but did not effect tissue invasion of the brain and kidneys. Killed C. parvum vaccine reduces host resistance to Aspergillus infection and facilitates the course of fatal murine aspergillosis. These results suggest further caution in applying systemic C. parvum in the therapy of human neoplasia.