Fungicidal components of mammalian granulocytes active against Cryptococcus neoformans

Abstract

Citric acid extracts of granule-rich fractions, prepared from rabbit and guinea pig heterophils or human neutrophis, killed Cryptococcus neoformans in vitro. These extracts sere fractionated by micropreparative electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels. In preparation of rabbit and guinea pig heterophils, cryptococcidal activity was associated predominantely with lysosomal cationic protein complex. Human neutrophils lacked strictly comparable cationic proteins but contained other components that killed C. neoformans. These components appeared to be identical to previously described proteins of the human neutrophil active against Candida parapsilosis.