Secretion of inducible proteinase by pathogenic Candida species.

The ability of three isolates each of seven pathogenic Candida species to grow in a liquid medium containing bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a nitrogen source was determined. All three strains of C. albicans, two strains of C. guilliermondii and one strain of C. tropicalis grew well. At any time proteinase activity was detected in the culture filtrates of only the most virulent species--C. albicans, C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis and this observation was related to complete hydrolysis of BSA. Serologically, cross reactions were demonstrated between anti-proteinase antiserum and C. albicans and C. tropicalis culture filtrates. These results further emphasise the role of the inducible proteinase of Candida in the pathogenesis of candidosis.