Control of infectious microorganisms by modulation of chorionic gonadotropin-related protein activity

A method of controlling, in a warm-blooded animal, an infectious microorganism expressing a chorionic gonadotropin-like growth-regulating protein comprises modulating the activity of the protein by administering to the warm-blooded animal an effective amount of an antibody capable of inhibiting the activity of the protein, the chorionic gonadotropin-like growth-regulating protein itself such that the animal develops a neutralizing immune response, or peptides that block the receptors of the chorionic gonadotropin-like growth-regulating protein in the infectious microorganism. Candida albicans is one such microorganism that can be controlled by delivering an antibody against the growth-regulating protein, CaCGLP. Mycobacteria can also be controlled by this method. A method of inhibiting transition of Candida albicans blastospores in vitro by contacting the blastospores with an antibody against CaCGLP is also disclosed. A method of inhibiting growth of mycobacteria in vitro comprises contacting the mycobacteria with an antibody against an endogenous chorionic gonadotropin-like growth-regulating protein. In vitro growth of microorganisms can also be stimulated by contacting the microorganism with a chorionic gonadotropin-like growth-regulating protein.