Following intranasal inoculation of mice, Rhizomucor pusillus spores are gradually cleared from the lung, with the clearance complete at 30 days. Incubation of R. pusillus spores in vivo for up to 14 days after intranasal inoculation resulted in pulmonary mucormycosis when the mice were then treated with cortisone. Spore-agglutinating IgM antibodies were detected in normal adult mice and R. pusillus-inoculated but not cortisone-treated mice. There was no correlation between antispore antibody titers and spore germination in vitro. The absence of germinated R. pusillus in inoculated but non-cortisone-treated mice appears to be due to a reversible inhibition of spore germination rather than destruction of spores by the host. The factor(s) that restrict spore germination are reversible and do not appear to be spore agglutinating antibodies.Our previous studies established an animal model of pulmonary mucormycosis (phycomycosis) in cortisone-treated mice, resulting in disease that is similar to human mucormycotic infections [12]. It was shown that viable but non-germinated Rhizomucor pusillus spores remain for long periods of time only in lung tissue of nonpredisposed (non-cortisone-treated) animals, whereas germination and infection occurs rapidly in cortisone-treated mice. Cortisone can inhibit the restriction of spore germination, and is known to interfere with various processes in inflammatory and immunologic reactions [2,7].There is evidence of acquired immunity in experimental mucormycotic infection [3]: mice previously exposed to sub-lethal doses of spores showed a high resistance to subsequent intravenous challenge with Absidia ramosa. However, vaccination with non-viable A. ramosa spores did not induce significant protective immunity to the fungus. Additionally, the passive transfer of antibody increased the resistance of cortisone-treated mice to pulmonary and disseminated mucormycosis produced by R. pusillus although spore germination and infection occurred [11]. The role of naturally acquired antispore antibodies on spore germination has not been investigated.The purpose of this study was to determine whether and for how long spores maintain the ability to germinate in vivo when the animal is subsequently cortisonetreated and what effect naturally acquired antibodies to R. pusillus spores have on spore germination in vitro.
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