Behavior of Candida Cells Within Leukocytes.

Candida cells are rapidly phagocytosed by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. After 4 hours' incubation at 37°C, the fungus survives within the leukocyte and may form hyphae which appear to penetrate the wall of viable leukocytes. More virulent Candida strains usually, but not always, exhibit a greater capacity to grow out of viable leukocytes after phagocytosis. This ability to circumvent host cellular defenses may permit the fungus to gain readier access to the renal tubular lumen, a site where Candida can proliferate unhampered by ordinarily effective defense mechanisms.