Mast cell sensitizing antibodies in experimental candidiasis.

Inoculation into foot-pads of guinea-pigs of a living suspension of Candida albicans together with Complete Freund's Adjuvant, provoked a hypersensitive state, characterized by: 1) positive skin tests; 2) direct degranulation of peritoneal mast cells when exposed in vitro to the antigen; and 3) homologous "mast cell sensitizing antibodies" detected by the "indirect mast cell degranulation test". The mast cell sensitizing antibodies were heat labile, and their activity could not be restored by complement.