Immunization Protocols for Use in Animal Models of Candidiasis

Immunoprotection during most forms of candidiasis (oropharyngeal, invasive) is lacking since most candidiasis patients are immunosuppressed either as a result of their allogeneic transplant, cancer chemotherapy, or HIV infection. Consequently, immunization might be considered as an unlikely way to protect patients from such infection. Nonetheless, there are a number of investigations that indicate active immunization or the passive treatment with hyperimmune, specific antibodies can result in protection in models of experimental candidiasis. The former subject, active immunization, is the subject of this chapter. We focus on recent efforts with the Als family of cell wall proteins to serve as a model, and also offer immunization methods in candidiasis models that can be adapted to any antigen of the organism.