Human, monoclonal and recombinant candidacidal, pneumocysticidal and mycobactericidal antibodies.

Antiidiotypic antibodies (antiIds) representing the internal image of some antigenic deteminants have been proposed as surrogate vaccines or, conjugated with toxins, in the immunotherapy of cancer. Experimental studies on antiidiotypic vaccination against fungal infections have been lacking. A conceptually new model of idiotypic vaccination against fungal infection has been recently developed. The vaccine used is monoclonal antibody that in vitro neutralizes the activity of killer toxin from the yeast, Pichia anomala (KT). This is effective against a wide range of fungal pathogens including Candida albicans and Pneumocystis carinii, and is also active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In an experimental mouse model, this vaccination was found to confer significant protection against systemic and mucosal infection with C. albicans. Human recombinant killer toxin antibodies and its synthetic derivatives hold promise of a potentially powerful tool against fungal and mycobacterial infections.