Importance of the terminal complement components for immune defence against Candida.

Candida activates complement via all three pathways leading to opsonisation and anaphylaxis. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of the terminal complement system on Candida infections. Thus, fungal cell growth, mitochondrial activity and phagocytosis by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) as well as specific virulence factors, such as release of secreted aspartic protease (Sap) and adherence to epithelial cells, were assessed under the influence of normal or C6/C7-depleted serum.