Immunisation with the glycolytic enzyme enolase confers effective protection against Candida albicans infection in mice

► Mice were immunized with recombinant enolase. ► High levels of IgG1 and IgG2a were induced in immune serum. Killing capacity of neutrophils enhanced after yeasts were opsonized with anti-serum. Fungal burdens reduced after antibody were passive transferred. ► Both Th1 cytokine IL-12 and Th2 cytokine IL-10 increased in immune serum. ► Enolase can effectively protect against systemic infection caused by two strains of Candida albicans differing in virulence in mice.