ABSTRACT
The title of this chapter reflects two important concepts that have resulted from research on Candida and candidiasis, namely that a vaccine against the disease is a possibility and that antibodies can be protective. Neither tells us about protective mechanisms, but the second dispels the dogma that antibodies against Candida are of no benefit to the host. These concepts arise even though our basic understanding of Candida-host interactions is far from complete. Our lack of knowledge does not, of course, preclude clinical application of a vaccine formulation, as attested by many examples, the ultimate being the use of the vaccine against smallpox near the end of the 18th century. Indeed. clinical application inspires further basic science, which in tum leads to new insights into host-parasite interactions and vaccine improvements. In this chapter we will examine this scenario as it pertains to antibodies that protect against various forms of candidiasis.
