Comparative effects of carrageenan on systemic candidiasis and listeriosis in mice.

Carrageenan, a toxic substance for the mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS), increase drastically the susceptibility of mice against Listeria monocytogenes challenge but induces concurrently an increasing resistance against systemic candidiasis and granulocytosis. These results corroborate the minor role played by MPS and suggest that polymorphonuclear cells play a major role in non-specific resistance of mice against systemic candidiasis.