Inhibition of mycelial growth of Candida albicans by ascites fluid of tumor bearing mice

: The effects of ascites fluids and sera of tumor-bearing mice on the mycelial growth of Candida albicans were examined. When the ascites fluids or the sera obtained from mice inoculated with MM46 mammary carcinoma were added to the culture medium, mycelial growth of C. albicans was strongly inhibited. The molecular size of the growth inhibitory factor in the ascites fluids was estimated to be approximately 80 K dalton by gel-filtration chromatography. Ferric chloride (6 microM) neutralized the anti-Candida activity. On the basis of these results including morphological observation, a possible role of a transferrin-like molecule was discussed.