Candidacidal activity of a monoclonal antibody that binds with glycosyl moieties of proteins of Candida albicans.

The incidence of life threatening mycoses caused by opportunistic fungi has increased dramatically in recent years with Candida and Aspergillus being the most commonly encountered species. Candida albicans ranks among the four most common causes of bloodstream infections and is responsible for vulvovaginal candidiasis in the majority of women in their reproductive years. Limited spectrum of antifungal activity of currently available antifungals and emergence of resistance has become a serious problem. Therefore, in search of an alternative form of treatment of candidiasis, in the present study a monoclonal antibody (MAb-G5) of IgA isotype was identified from the hybridoma produced by the fusion of lymphocytes of C. albicans immunized mouse with Sp2/O cells. The MAb-G5 exhibited in vitro candidacidal activity and was also found to be useful for treatment and prophylactic use under experimental conditions in vivo.